Happy Birthday to my Love

Just want to take some time out today to wish the hubs a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Ironically, we got a snow day today - and he had to go in on his day off to plow snow. He's not very happy about it. And I wish he were home so we could celebrate.

But, Happy Birthday to my best friend, the best man I know:

To the guy that gives me reason to wake up in the morning

To the man who sticks by my side no matter what

To the goof ball who always makes me smile.

To my partner in crime that always makes life a little more, um, entertaining

To the love of my life, I thank God for the man that you are every day.

Happy Birthday!!!

Parenting with Relevance

Yesterday, the hubs and I attending this seminar held at our congregation called "Parenting with Relevance." Our minister, Patrick Mead, was the keynote for the day, and he's nothing short of amazing (plus, his kids have grown up to be amazing as well, so he's a great guy to get parenting advice from). I will never forget hearing him speak as a guest in my Marriage and Family course in college, and lingering on every word he said, even before I had kids. I've heard him talk about parenting before, but I wanted to share a few things that really stuck with me yesterday:

1. The biggest message I took home with me was that our children our designed to be different than us. We're not called to raise carbon copies of ourselves, so we should never expect our kids to be like us, act like us, think like us. They're unique and different because God needed them to be. Let them be who they are. Love who they are and where they are.

2. "God didn't create your babies for you, but for HIM. You have simply been entrusted with their care." WOW. Isn't it so true? We are to equip our children to be ready for the world, to make wise decisions and be a light in a dark world, and prepare them to live without you.

3. Why did God make us parents? 1. To teach us the world is not here for us. He gave us someone to depend on us fully, someone we submit to. Family removes you from the center of the universe. 2. To teach about unconditional love and service. We are to lead by example.

4. Our job is NOT to make our kids happy. Our job is to make them good.

There were so many other wonderful points, but it would take me forever to write it all down. I came away feeling empowered to be the best parent I could be, for God. I've got His kids, and I want to take the best care of them I know how. I want to be able to give them back someday. =]

Procrastination in Expensive!

Hello, I'm Vee. And I'm the queen of procrastination:

Am I the only one?

This is one of those times that procrastination has really kicked me in the butt.

The hubs and I tried to make a lot of changes last week to cut our costs after losing an income last month. It's proved to be very challenging, because we simply just aren't making enough anymore to cover our bills, let alone extra expenses. So, I sat down and finally decided to make a few phone calls I had been putting off...

Let me start by saying I hate talking on the phone. But I especially hate talking on the phone to companies. I hate the confrontation, I hate the waiting and automated garbage (90% of the time, I need to talk to a representative anyway, why put me through all that!?!?), I hate the people you can't understand on the phone cause they don't speak clear English, I hate arguing with people who are rude aren't willing to help you.....am I alone in this? Who looks forward to making these phone calls?!?

Well, these phone calls give me anxiety. I sweat, I stutter, my knee starts going like crazy, half the time I end up in tears on the other end....I avoid these phone calls like the plague.

Well, they needed to be made. We made the decision to try and call some of our student loan companies and our one credit card company to see if there were any temporary arrangements we could set up during this difficult financial period in our family. UGH. Last week, I got a hold of one student loan company and they reduced my monthly payment by $200!! And it was the easiest phone call ever, the woman was very helpful and sweet. You'd think this would make the rest of the phone calls easier, but no. So here goes....

I WISH I HAD DONE THIS SOONER.

I realize now how silly I was. I made 3 phone calls and ended saving myself HUNDREDS of dollars a month, just by asking. What I learned is that as long as you're willing to work with them, and pay something, they're usually pretty willing to work with you in return. If I made the phone call to my credit card company months ago when we started having trouble paying it....I would have saved myself hundreds of dollars. It makes me sick to my stomach.

But, you live, you learn. Then get Luvs. (Oh, wait...wrong saying)...

I'm thankful those phone calls are behind me, and praise God they've freed up some money in our budget to eat this month! HA I'm writing this in hopes to encourage you to make these phone calls as well if you've been putting them off. It never hurts to ask. The worst they could do is say no. If you put it off, be warned:

Procrastination is Expensive.

I got slimed on Nickelodeon

I was cracking up at all the people who wanted to know about my experience of getting slimed on Nickelodeon....so, here's what I remember of it (keep in mind, I was 8 years old)

My parents took my brothers and me to Orlando (my aunt lived there) and to the Universal Orlando theme park, then to Nickelodeon studios where they did all the Nickelodeon game show recordings at the time. Remember that big Slime Geyser that used to be on the all the commercials?!? Yeah, we were there. I do remember that Geyser, it erupted every so often and this big warning bell would ring.

Anyway, they were giving a big group of us a tour before a recording, then asked us all to be audience members. They said they'd choose one person to get 'slimed' - so I started jumping up and down like every other kid there. They walked right past me. So, with an extra shove from my parents, I followed the workers until they stopped again, and jumped up and down in their face. They must have had pity on me or they were just getting annoyed with me - I can't remember - but they picked me. I remember hearing a reference about my short hair....like maybe it would be easier for me to wash out cause I had short hair.

This part of the story may be disappointing, cause I don't really remember it. I couldn't tell you which show we were on. I've looked them all up, and still can't recall. I don't remember ANY of the actual game itself. All I remember was sitting in the middle of the room, and getting dumped on by slime!!!

If any of you are wondering, my slime was green applesauce. I remember that pretty clearly. (They used different slime all the time).

Next thing I know, I was in a back room with a shower so that I could clean up. But I'm 8, I don't know anyone around, and my parents and brothers were waiting for me outside, so I showered as quickly as humanly possible. Apparently, it was a little too quickly, cause the other vivid memory I have of the day was having hard, crusty, applesauce-smelling hair the rest of the day because I didn't wash it out good enough. Didn't matter. It was mark of coolness for the day.

Now, they did give me a fancy certificate that said 'I got slimed on Nickelodeon' or something like that. You think I can find it? Of course not. My one big accomplishment in life, and nothing to show for it. Sheesh.

Hope y'all enjoyed that sad excuse of a recollection of the single greatest event in my life. Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating.

Have you ever done anything like get slimed/got on the news/been on a show when you were a kid?!?

I should probably point out that on that same trip, we drove down to watch the shuttle take off and also made it on the news. It was my 15 minutes of fame. People were star struck all around me. =]

Beautiful Blogger

Maybe when I'm a blogging veteran, blogger awards won't take over my posts. But for now, in my giddy school girl excitement, I am proud to display my awards...this is only my second:

Thanks to CA Girl for the nomination! Here are the rules:

1. Thank then link to the person that gave you the award

2. Pass this award on to 15 bloggers you've recently discovered & whom you think are fantastic

3. Contact said Blogs to let them know they've won

4. State 7 Things about yourself!

In no particular order.....

1. Outnumbered by 3 Stooges!!

2. Capitol Heights Mom

3. A daily scoop of choas

4. Live.Love.Laugh

5. Livin' the Great Life!

6. Taulman Times: Special Edition

7. Sugar, Spice, and a little bit of life

8. The Adventures and Mishaps of Mrs. Amy B

9. Kitchen Table Productions

10. Life According to Amanda

11. A Bunch of my Nonsense

12. The Transient Pod

13. The Coffee Spot

14. Faith for the Journey

15. My Southern California Life

Okay, and now 7 things about myself:

1. I was slimed on Nickelodeon when I was 8.

2. I tend to use 12 words where 2 will do.

3. I heart Gerard Butler.

4. Singing is my passion, scrapbooking is my hobby.

5. I pick my wedgies when no one is looking. Or maybe when people are looking. You can't just leave it there.

6. Anyone who knows me know that I HATE fish. Due to a series of unfortunate events in my childhood, I have a very irrational phobia of them...or anything that lives in the water. I'm actually much better than I used to be. 

7. I can beat box. I learned vocal percussion out of necessity when I traveled in an all girl's Acappella group. I likely won't do it for you if you ask, but I promise I can!

Phat Tuesday

Can someone please explain to me what the big deal about 'Fat Tuesday' is?!?

Only once have I ever tried a Paczki  (in college) and I didn't get it. Tasted worse than a donut and worse for your body. I'd take a sour cream glazed donut from Tim Hortons ANY day of the week.

So, today I'm celebrating 'PHAT' Tuesday instead. With the help of my friend, Jillian Micheals:

That's right. I did it. I ordered '30 Day Shred.' Since I had to cancel my membership at the gym, I needed to find something I could do at home that would motivate me....who better than Jillian? I figure if she can change the life of one of my friends enough that he named a child after her, surely she could get my butt in gear! I actually got a great deal on Amazon for three of her DVD's (costing me 1/4 the amount of one month at the gym!!!):

I'm going to start with The Shred. I read a ton of reviews about it, and thanks to a fellow blogger, I was convinced to finally give it a try.

Well, let me tell you....I started Sunday morning, and I was surprised that I actually really loved the workout. It was simple movements, yet really intense. She switched it up enough that it goes by quickly, and it's totally doable. 3 minutes of strength, 2 minutes of cardio, 1 minute of abs.....times 3.  

I finished feeling refreshed after not having worked out in a few weeks. And the kicker was how unbelievable sore I was the next day. Like, WHOA. I got up early Monday morning and decided between my inability to move, and this funky thing I've got going on with my eye (it's been swollen shut the last three mornings, and leaking at night...WEIRD), and developing strep throat to where I can't swallow anything without severe pain, and the intense migraines I've been getting for a few days - I thought I deserved a break. But, I WILL be using this regularly. I WILL try this for 30 days. I'm totally pumped about it. And Jillian will be my new best friend if she can get me through this plateau and I could lose 20 pounds in 30 days....I'd be so close to my goal weight! =]

I just need to get healthy/feel better first.

Have any of you tried The Shred? There were mixed reviews about it, but I'm pretty sure if it's something you stick to, Jillian really knows her stuff! I'm interested to hear what you think!

A day late and a dollar short

I know the title makes you think this is yet another depressing post from me.

Not today. =]

Just wanted to recap my weekend with my perfect Valentine....a day late. And since we're broke, we didn't celebrate (a dollar short). The kids and I did make this sweet card for him:

 Please excuse the photo quality, this was taken from my camera phone.

We had a very low key day. Just like any other Sunday, really. Church, then lunch with friends (our one treat for ourselves and about the only time we go out to eat anymore). Then, cleaned the house in preparation for friends to come over for Rock Band, then some guitar playing and girl talk (those happened separately, btw). 

Also, thank you to everyone for all your prayers this week, not only for myself but for our dear friends as well. I have felt prayer and it's amazing to have this avenue to connect through prayer with amazing women I would never meet otherwise.

My little dude is feeling much better, praise God! And, I think it's finally safe to say......drum roll please.....HE'S OFFICIALLY POTTY TRAINED!!! I don't know which news I'm happier about!

Like Father, like son.

Hope you all had a fantastic Valentine weekend!!! XOXO