Meet Me on Monday

Questions:




1. What are you wearing right now?
My pjs! It's only 8:30pm and I'm in my pajamas already. But in my defense I've been packing all day and I'm ready to be comfy.  I just wish I had my favorite pillow to lean against while I blog.

2. Do you have any freckles?
I think they're freckles. Yes, I do. I think.
3. What is your favorite Lifesaver flavor?

Wild Cherry.  Love, love, love the wild cherry Lifesavers. 

4. What is the last movie you saw in the theater?
True Grit. We don't get out much lately, but we're broke so there! It was an awesome movie though.  I was surprised at how funny it was.  I'm weird, I'm not really into chick flicks so much.

5. Would you rather live without tv or without music?
I would definitely rather live without tv.  Being without music would drive me crazy.  I'm not sure what I did before I had my iPod. In fact I'm thinking about getting an iPod touch. But I can't decide if I should just give in and get an iPhone or stick with the iPod.

Six Word Saturday

One was lost, then was found.





Stolen vehicles that is.  Dad called it in and somebody was on another line reporting it stolen. At least it wasn't burned.  This is the second stolen vehicle we've found close to our house.  Our vehicles have been broken into several times.  Another good reason to move.

Have a good weekend!

Fill in the Blank Friday!!!!!

Sponsored by

1. I am currently obsessed with cheesecake.  Is it that obvious? I don't know what it is lately. I love cheesecake, but the last month I've loved it even more.

2. Today I am tired because, maybe I need more sleep? I think I need to start taking my vitamins again.  I've been lazy lately.



3. The age I am is 34 and the age I feel is dependent on where I'm at. When I'm at work I feel like I'm about 8 and when I'm at home with the kids I feel like I'm 40.  Two different things, I get to play and at home I have to deal with all the boring stuff like homework and showers and cleaning rooms.




4. My favorite place is anywhere with Jason, because we can have fun where ever we are.  I think he could make being at the DMV entertaining. He's a funny guy.





5. Something I have been procrastinating is finishing packing. Ugh, I need to get in gear since moving day is less than a week away.


6. The last thing I purchased was lunch at McDonald's for the boy since his appointment was during lunch time and it was just fun to do.  I almost never take the kids to McDonald's any more.



7. The thing I love most about my home is I have my own room again. For a long time me and the kids were all in the same room.  It was not fun.  I love my kids, but mommy needs her space.




Have a great weekend!

Five Question Friday

1. Can you drive a stick shift?

Yes I can! I already new how to drive when I took driver's training, so I learned how to drive a stick shift. It comes in very handy sometimes!



2. What are two foods you just can't eat?
I'm not sure. I've gotten over a lot of my pickiness. Is that a word? I know Jason wants me to try sushi and I think it's gonna be hard to me to get past the whole raw fish thing.  Of course I'm allergic to a lot of food so I really can't eat those.  Let's see, I'm allergic to walnuts, kiwi, cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon, avocado, and bananas to name a few!




3. Do you buy Girl Scout Cookies? What is your favorite kind?
Usually I do. If my daughter gets into Girl Scouts like she wants to I'll probably be buying lots of them.  As to my favorite it's a toss up.  I love the Thin Mints and then the Peanut Butter patties, and then Caramel Delites.



4. How do you pamper yourself?
I get my hair done, because I'm tired of dying it myself and I get the occasional pedicure, mostly in the summer when I wear flip flops a lot.



5. What is your nickname and how did you get it?
I don't think I really have a nickname. Okay, so maybe Princess, but very few people call me that any more. Only my tias (aunts) and my cousin.  That was my Wordless Wednesday post, my new tattoo a number 1 wearing a crown because my cousin is the second princess in the family. So her tattoo is a number 2 with a crown.  My aunts call me princess because I was the first girl in the family.  I got spoiled, A LOT.

Thursday Thirteen - Good things about moving!

Normally, I would complain about moving, but there's lots of good stuff about where we're moving to and who wants to read 13 of my complaints?

1. The kids will be in a better school district.
2. The kids can walk to school! Yay! No more dealing with the morning drop off!
3. The salon I get my hair done at is within walking distance! Sweet! Not only will I sav.e on gas, but I can actually go every four weeks and totally avoid the gray roots!
4. There must be half a dozen Starbucks within five minutes of the house.  Coffee is awesome.
5. The gym I go to is so much closer. No more half hour drive to the gym!
6. There is a park and walking trails right next to the development.
7. Target is five minutes away!
8. The new house is 30 minutes closer to where I go riding. I am so excited about this one. I miss riding and with the weather hopefully getting better and summer time coming, I see lots of horse time in my future.  Riding makes me a very happy girl.  It's like a happy pill.
9. Another biggie, the kids will have separate bedrooms.  I hope that having their own space will generate some peace and quiet.
10. The tv that's in their room now will be in the living room. No more bedtime tv battles!
11. The new house is closer to my school too!
12. Panda Express right up the street. Yummy Orange Chicken! Oh I could walk there and burn off the calories! Hey, it sounds good. Don't burst my bubble.
13. The last good thing and probably the best, we're moving to a better neighborhood. Hopefully no more vehicle break ins.

My very first book review!

I know I was probably supposed to get this done a month ago, but I have a life and I didn't want to review a book that I hadn't actually read.  So, with that being said, the book I read was The Book of Tomorrow by Cecilia Ahern.

The Book of Tomorrow is the enchanting new novel from New York Times bestselling author Cecelia Ahern, blends magic and mystery with a life-affirming tale of a poor little rich girl's curious troubles that arise when her lixurious life is pulled out from under her.  As she has done in such internationally beloved books as P.S. I Love You - the basis for the Hilary Swank film- Thanks for the Memories, and The Gift, Ahern brilliantly caputres the emotional complexity of her heroine as she struggles to make sesnse of the strange new situation into which life has thrust her.
At sixteen, Tamara Goodwin has it all: she lives in a modernist mansion in the most upmarket of suburbs, is delivered to her elite school each morning by a private chauffeur, and can acquire any material possession she desires.  But this life of unbridled privilege is turned upside down when her father, despondent over faltering business deals, commits suicide.  Suddenly, Tamara and her mother are virtually penniless and, compounding their grief, are forced to sell most of their belongings and temporarily move to the countryside with Tamara's aunt and uncle.
Tamar could not be more unhappy with her new situation - she knows no one, there is nothing to do and nowhere to shop, and she doesn't even have computer access or a cell phone.  Worst of all, though, is her timid Aunt Rosaleen, a compulsive housekeeper and cook.  Rosaleen has taken complete control of caring for Tamara's mother, Jennifer, who is suffering from depression.  Indeed, Rosaleen is keeping Jennifer a virtual prisoner, never allowing her to leave her bedroom, and, despite Tamara's protests, refusing to acknowledge the abnormality of the state of affairs.  Rosaleen is also caring for her elderly mother, who lives in a bungalow across the road.  When Tamara tries to meet the old woman, she encounters some oddities that don't square with what she's been told.
With nothing else to occupy her time, Tamara takes to wandering the grounds of a ruined castle, where she meets Sister Ignatius, a feisty and wise nun who seems to possess some furtive knowledge about the uneasy local history.  Tamara's only other diversion comes in the form of a traveling library, driven by a cute local boy named Marcus.  In the bus that houses the hodgepodge of books, she finds an unusual leather-bound book with a golden clasp.  The book is locked shut, but Tamara opens the lock with the help of Sister Ignatius.  She disovers a diary with nothing but blank pages, but when she looks again later, the first pages of the diary have been inscribed with an entry, dated the next day, in Tamara's own handwriting.  When the events of the next day play out as recorded, Tamara realizes that she has stumbled upon a mysterious tool - one that could allow her to shape the future.  But what could that future hold in a place where she can't even make sense of the present?  And how far is Tamara willing to go to break through the web of secrets?
As Publishers Weekly says, "Ahern's tale-spinning prowess keeps the reader riveted."  Booklist raves, "A veritable modern-day Gothic, Ahern's [ . . . ] engrossing new novel is filled with family secrets, intrigue, and magic aplenty."  The Book of Tomorrow was an instant #1 bestseller in the UK and is sure to delight Ahern's devoted American fans as well.

About the Author
In addition to P.S. I Love You, written when she was twenty-one, Cecelia Ahern is the author of Love, Rosie; If You Could See Me Now; There's No Place Like Here; Thanks for the Memories; and The Gift, which have collectively sold more than 12 million copies worldwide.  The daughter of Ireland's former prime minister, she live in Dublin.

Now that you've read all that, here's what I thought of the book!  Since I love, love, love the movie P.S. I Love You I was excited to read this novel.  I was not disappointed.  The story is really well written and could appeal to a wide span of age ranges.  I think teen as well as adult women would really enjoy this book.  It was full of twists and turns and I LOVE a good mystery.  The end was so exciting to read that I was literally skimming the pages so I could find out what happened. An amazing story with a great happily ever after ending.  So, since I'm moving and my storage is already full of books, I'm going to give my copy away.  If you're interested in reading the book, comment on the post and if I get more than one, haha, I'll pick a lucky person to send the book too! If I only get one comment then woohoo the book is yours!!!!

How exciting! Probably my longest post ever and 90% of it wasn't me!  And a giveaway!

Picture This Thursday - Animal

Jason's dog and my step-daughter Annie waiting for Jason to get home from work.  She's such a sweet girl.

Wordless Wednesday

PINT - Please indulge me while I continue to gush about food and my boyfriend edition

Heroes - Photo Challenge

I couldn't get the picture I wanted, so I used Buzz instead.  I don't fly, I fall with style!

Music Monday

I wasn't crazy about this song when I first heard it. Now I absolutely love it.

Six Word Saturday

Finally get to have cheesecake tomorrow!

*on an unrelated note, I can finally post pictures to my blog again! Woohoo!

Five Question Friday

1. Have you worn the same outfit more than one day in a row?
Not necessarily the same outfit, but the same shirt several days in a row.  Okay, so I didn't wear it to school, but I put it on when I got home and slep in it. Jason mailed one of his shirts to me and I didn't want to wash it because it smelled like him. Yes, I'm a dork.


2. If you had to choose any LARGE city to live in, which would it be?
Houston. I have a super cool friend that lives there.



3. Fly or drive with the kids on vacation?
Is going on vacation without the kids an option? No? Fine. Fly, hopefull that trip will be shorter.


4. What is your idea of "spring cleaning"?
Going through all the piles of junk around the house and getting rid of stuff we don't need or use any more and organizing what we need to keep.


5. What is the best book you have ever read?
Gone With The Wind, it's also my favorite book. I named my daughter after Scarlett.  Her name was supposed to be Katherine Scarlett, but her father was against the middle name.  The jerk.

That was a lot harder than I thought it would be

I wrote the title to this post three days ago.  I sat here and stared at it for a good thirty minutes before I saved the draft and left it alone.

I didn't anticipate how hard it would be to call and request an appointment with a child psychiatrist.  I hate asking for help.  It's like admitting failure and I don't like to fail.  But I didn't fail. I didn't fail myself and I didn't fail my children.  I took a deep breath and made a phone call, then went to an appointment where I asked for help, because one of my children isn't happy and it's beyond where I know what to do to help.  The other is having a lot of trouble in school and I've done everything I know how to do.  So it's time for some assessments and time for some talking.

I won't think about my degree in child development or the fact that I'm a behavioral therapist that can't manage her own child's behavior.  It's different when it's your own child.  It knocked me on my ass for a good two days and really put a damper on our Valentine's Day.  But as with most things, I cry and then I dust myself off and keep on moving forward, because I have to.

Fill in the Blank Friday

1. I am a mother, a daughter, a sister, a girlfriend, a teacher, a student, a volunteer, and an advocate.  I'm a busy girl! Apparently now I'm a rep for Fresno Pacific student relations committee for CCAEYC. Why did I say yes to that?


2. The bravest thing I've ever done was to walk into the bedroom, kick the bed, and tell my now ex-husband to pack his shit and get the fuck out.  Those are the exact words I used. Trust me, that was me being nice about the situation.




3. I feel prettiest when does it sound conceited if I say all the time? Yes it does, but I'm gonna go with it! I guess I'm pretty comfortable in my own skin. I'm okay going out with no makeup on and my hair in a ponytail. But sometimes I like to put makeup on and do my hair, but it's pretty rare. I know the makeup and hair is for other people, the people that matter, my kids, my boyfriend, and the children I work with, don't care what if I wear makeup or pretty clothes.




4. Something that keeps me awake at night is worrying about money and school, and my kids. So basically stress, stress keeps me awake at night. 




5. My favorite meal in the entire world is prime rib and a baked potato with everything on it. Damn, now I'm hungry. 


6. The way to my heart is patience with my insanity and making me laugh when I really need to, cause let's face it. I take myself way to seriously sometimes.  I'm getting better though.




7. I would like to finish school, get a full-time job so Jason and I can get our own place and get on with our lives already. This holding pattern of waiting to finish school and finding jobs is getting very frustrating.

Pictures

Is anybody else having trouble posting pictures to their blog? I keep getting the add images window, but can't do anything with it.

Thursday Thirteen

 I Love

1. My kiddos. (obviously)
2. My parents, again obviously and it's not just the rent free living either.  It's the free babysitting!
3. Jason (duh!)
4. Cheesecake.  (Please note Jason's name is above cheesecake.  That's how much I love him. I've been known to kill for cheesecake.  It's awesome stuff)
5. My BlackBerry. (How else would I annoy Jason all day and half into the night? Omg, I should like a teenager.  I'm in my 30s folks)
6. My laptop. ( I waited years to get my own computer. It's my baby. It had a virus a few months ago, and I almost missed a session to take it in to get fixed)
7. Books. ( I love to read. I keep a book in my truck in case I get some time to read. Comes in handy when sessions get cancelled)
8. My camera.  (I lusted after the Canon Rebel for a good two years before I finally got one.)
9. My job. ( I love playing with the kiddos. I get paid to play. Yes, you should be jealous)
10. Lazy Sundays with my love. (I actually count down the days until Saturday night)
11. Tattoos.(I can't wait to get another one. I was supposed to get one tonight, but it got cancelled )
12. Coffee ( There's no way I'm ever giving it up)
13. Baking ( I miss having my own kitchen and being able to bake whenver I wanted to. Mostly I just miss having my own kitchen)

Wordless Wednesday

PINT - Belated Valentine Edition

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day baby. I love you more than I love cheesecake and you know how much I love cheesecake.

Meet Me on Monday

Questions:




1. Did you get any Valentine's Gifts? I don't know yet.  Jason's hasn't shown up yet and I ordered it ten days ago. I'm giving Amazon the stink eye if it doesn't show up by tomorrow afternoon.  After all the crap I gave him about not missing Valentine's Day, I'm going to be the empty-handed jackass. Nice

2. What is your favorite topping on something toasted?  Hmmmmm, that's actually kinda difficult. I would have to say low fat cream cheese and strawberry fruit spread on a toasted english muffin.  Tastes like cheesecake.  So yummy.  Justifiable cheesecake for breakfast.  Nothing better!

3. Do you pick out your outfit the night before? Nope.  It's not that hard to plan jeans and t-shirts.

4. What food item do you absolutely despise? I don't know. I've gotten more adventurous in my eating habits over the years.  Hell I even eat broccoli now.  My mom is so proud.

5. Righty or lefty? Righty!

Six Word Saturday

Having dinner with great friends tonight!

(thanks google images)

Everybody have a great weekend!

Fill in the Blank Friday

1. The TV show/website that I watch/read that I would be embarrassed to tell anyone about is, I don't really have one.  I managed to get Jason addicted to the Food Network so I guess I'm home free! Woohoo!

2. An item of clothing that is worn and torn but that I love far to much to throw away is, again I don't really have one.  I usually throw stuff out when it gets too beat up to wear.  Although the sweatshirt I stole from Jason is getting pretty worn out but that's because I wear pretty much every day.  If I can steal a few more t-shirts I'll have myself a whole new comfy wardrobe!




3. My grocery store impulse buy is ice cream.  I have to force myself not to walk down the ice cream isle.  Ben & Jerry are evil bastards.




4. Something I do at work to pass time that I wouldn't want my co-workers to know about is, sorry nothing exciting here either. I'm to busy blocking swipes at my head or dodging bites to need to pass the time.  It's a wonder I don't carry a flask with me.  I could use a shot between sessions.



5. One thing in my life that I could give up, but never will is probably Facebook. I'm so addicted it's really sad.  I'm logged in right now.  I'm logged in the whole time I'm doing homework.  Why?  I have no idea.  I quit playing the games on there.  It's a good thing I don't have to pay for it, of course then I'd probably have no trouble giving it up haha!


6. A little indulgence that I have is sneaking off to Starbucks when a session gets cancelled.  I get a coffee and sit in one of the big comfy chairs and read a book.  I always keep a book in my truck so I have something to do if I need to pass time between sessions.




7. The junk drawer/area in my house is have you seen the picture of my daughter's room? It's where junk goes to die.



Five Question Friday

1. Would you rather be on ABC's Extreme Home MakeOver or TLC's What not to Wear?

  Definitely Extremem Home MakeOver.  I know I look like a hot mess most of the time, but I'm comfortable and as I've said before, the kids I work with don't care what I'm wearing.



2. Do you have any tattoos? Yes I do! I have 6 and can't wait to get more.




3. Do you tell your kids about things you did growing up? Some of them.  Nothing I did during my teenage years because I don't want to give them any ideas.




4. If the traffic signal turns yellow, do you stop or speed up? I floor it! I've got a session to get to and I can't be late.






5. What's your preference: chocolate or chips? Chocolate covered chips.  Damn that sounds good right now.

Thursday Thirteen

Things I found in my daughter's messy room

1. A Halloween candy bucket full of candy wrappers.  No chocolate. Damn.
2. Hangers underneath her bed.  "Why didn't you hang up your clothes?" "I'm all out of hangers."  "Perhaps you should look UNDER YOUR BED!"
3. Clean clothes, still neatly folded.
4. Dirty clothes put in plastic tubs with toys.
5. Plastic trading card sheets, about 30 of them.  I have no idea where they came from.
6. Library books, from school. 
7. Dirt, in her bed.  Yes, dirt.
8. Bags of trash.  Yes, there is a trash can in her room.
9. 3 cups of water.  I suppose she was thirsty. But only just a little bit because the cups were mostly full.
10. Video game cartridges. In her bed.  I don't know how she slept in her bed really.
11. Hair.  I think she's been giving her stuffed animals hair cuts. 
12. Some sort of a plant.  At least I think it's a plant.  I hope it's a plant.
13. Pokemon cards. EVERYWHERE.

Wordless Wednesday

PINT

I'm getting brave with these photo challenges

My adorable nephew.  He's such a cutie. You should see him when he's awake.

Meet Me on Monday

Questions:




1. Did you watch the Superbowl? Yes I did although towards the end I started to fall asleep.

2. What is the last book that you read? The Life You've Imagined.  It was surprisingly good! I never get to read for fun any more.  It's always text books for now.

3. What is your favorite kind of cake? Cheesecake! I think I gained back the nine pounds I lost eating the cheesecake my dad got for my birthday.

4. Do you snore? I don't know.  Babe? Do I snore?

5. Do you play an instrument? Nope, unless you count beer bottles!

Six Word Saturday

I will see my love later!

Click on the link to play along with Cate!

At least it was over quickly

On Tuesday and Wednesday I had training in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention.  Basically, I learned how to keep myself from getting hurt by a child.  How sad is that?  The training is to minimize the danger of me and the child of getting hurt.  The whole time I kept thinking, the kids that I work with are so small, when am I actually going to need this? Sure they hit and kick, and sometimes bite but they're little and it's not like I can't just move away from them.

Until today.

When I arrived the house was in utter chaos.  Both siblings running everywhere, cable guys going in and out.  Mom was on the phone.  It looked like something out of a movie.

I went to my little guy to pick him up so we could start our session and he promptly tried to grab my face so he could bite me.  The following hour and a half pretty much went the same way.  Lots of kicking, hitting, biting, and trying to eat the rotting fruit off the ground in the backyard.  His older brother, who's still only 3 was also in on the action.  I think he might have actually thrown a shovel full of dirt on me at one point.  Finally after my little guy choked on a pit of some sort of mystery fruit I decided it was time to go back inside.

Another 15 minutes of chaos and I gently suggested to mom that maybe today wasn't a good day for therapy given the fact that there was thick green snot running out of her son's nose.  Thanks for the germs!

I was exhausted and covered in dirt.  Thank goodness my afternoon session cancelled and the morning went by quickly.

Fill in the Blank Friday

1. If I could only read one magazine publication for the rest of eternity, I would choose um, I don't really read magazines. In fact I can't remember the last time I read a magazine.


2. If I were to run my own magazine it would be about being a student and a parent at the same time.  Sounds good right?



3. I buy my magazines (at the grocery check stand or via subscription) at the, I used to have subscriptions, but they just piled up because I never had time to read them.




4. I prefer my magazines (in print or online) in print definitely.  I think blogs are the only things I can read online. The rest I prefer to have in my hand. 



5. The number of magazines I buy each month is 0. I'm poor, and I have too much homework.


6. My favorite magazine genre is (lifestyle, gossip, home, etc...) I guess it would be lifestyle. 




7. The magazines I read regularly are , I used to read Martha Stewart Living and saved all of them.  I was going to be the fourth little pig and build my house out of magazines.  It would have been a beautiful house too.