Wordless Wednesday

Mmmm.... Lunch

I'm Up For The Challange!

What kind of challenge you may ask...  

The Get Your Sparkle Back challenge of course!

You can read all about it over at Katie's page. She is The Sparkle Mama and you're almost always guaranteed a good laugh no matter the subject matter. 

She had this great idea to get us crazy fluff addicts cloth diaper users motivated. Get about twenty of us to join and we all add one new diaper into the pool. The highest percentage lost in thirty days wins ten, second and third each win five. (Or whatever it works out to be depending on how many of us join). Honestly- I don't need any more diapers. We have plenty. So I'm working on winning a starter stash for someone else while hoping to get a handle on my recent diagnosis of PCOS. I will, however, be checking out any brands I may win that I dont already own!

I dont have a set game plan. I was really hesitant to join. I feel I'm at a slight disadvantage. I'm the only adult in my house. The Mister is away for work. We're not talking  for two or three days. I mean hes gone for weeks and weeks and weeeeeks. Right now we are creeping up on six weeks apart. He'll be home for a few days towards the end of May while we take the kids to a water park in Pennsylvania. Then its back to work he goes. 550 miles away.

I dont get the chance to go to the gym, for a run, swimming, etc. I always have my three boys, the little girl I watch forty hours a week, and whatever neighborhood kids happen by that day. I shuttle them to tutors, trumpet, karate and hip-hop. I sleep four to five hours at night and run on coffee and shear will power!

I. Am. Exhausted.

But.... No more excuses. I'm in this to win it! 

That being said, I should probably step away from the Jelly Beans!
Maybe I'll aim for 2nd or 3rd place :)

Although it was not required- I have decided to lay it all out there. I am going to post a picture taken today AND my weight. I'm not totally comfortable with the woman I have become physically since having children- but I'm not embarrassed to be me.  I have come to realize I am not the 140lb, athletic, SEVENTEEN year old I was when I had my first son. I'm a woman. I was a child then. That realization alone has increased my confidence in myself.

Its just that... My curves have developed curves and its about time I reign them in a bit!

So here I am. The competition!

27 years old
A mother of 3 boys ages 9, 6 and 16 months
I'm 5'6 and a size 14

My weight.... Drum Roll Please....

cell phone for proof of date visible in the original submission pic

Yeppers... that says 213.2

I have that lovely 3x C-Section belly that resembles that of those starving children you see on late night infomercials.
My life long battle with the Hungarian arms has recently been lost. 

My "Bingo Wings" make 65 year old lunch ladies jealous. 

 

Oh yeah... I went there.

 

So there you have it. Please pardon my excessive bitchyness while I attempt to whip my ass into shape to put some fluff on another babies butt. You hear that, Eliott?! This is all your fault

Good Luck All!

Word Vomit Part 1

What a long, draining 8 weeks it has been around here. I really hate complaining- which is partially why I haven't done much in the writing dept lately. But mostly- I'm just to busy. I haven't had the time to just sit and write. I'm not one of the lucky ones that has the ability to put pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard, and have the words just flow. That rarely happens for me. Especially lately. Everything seems to take the last ounce of energy I have.

That being said- I've been having some health issues over the last year that  have drained me and its taken way to much time to get some answers. I'm zapped of all energy. I feel like I could sleep for a month. Now that I have answers, I make some changes and wait. In the mean time- I have to try my hardest to go to bed not long after the kids do. If that means the laundry sits in the hamper, the dishwasher goes unloaded, I don't vacuum the dog for the 3rd time that day (yes- I really do that) or I don't get the 'me' time to sit and write- then I just don't. I've was feeling really down that I haven't been able to put as much effort into writing and reviews/giveaways as I have wanted to. But that extra 90 minutes of sleep has been good for me.

I am the proud owner of the worlds easiest 16mn old. I try not to brag- but seriously- he's freakin amazing. Up at 830am, poop, eat, play, eat, nap at noon, sleep till 3 or 4, poop, eat, play, eat, play, poop, play, eat, play, bed at 830pm, sleep all night. He doesn't cry. He doesn't whine. He's not very vocal. But he knows enough signs to get what he wants and he follows directions better than most Soldiers. He's... Easy. The little girl I watch that is the same age as Cole, Monday through Friday 630am-430pm... Not so easy! (Sorry Char!) I've never seen such a small human not require sleep! If she sleeps for more than 30 minutes, I'm worried something is wrong! She's good- but not so easy! Now that I can't sneak in a nap during the day I'm wiped out by the time the oldest 2 come home at 4.

My poor big kids. I'm amazed I haven't been finding little crumpled up notes in their pockets about their new found MomZilla or hearing them pray at night that they think they want to go live with their dad. I wouldn't blame them. I'm not much fun lately.

AJ is 9, reasonably self sufficient and would space out into electronic world if I let him. I will fully admit that I have allowed him to play 4hrs of video games just so there was some peace between him and his brother. Other than a reminder to pick up after himself and double check his homework, he's easy too. As long as he isn't being forced to play with Keegan.

Ahh... Keegan. The 35yr old, divorced, disgruntled, laid off union employee trapped in a 6yr old body. That is how I see my son. I mean- there is plenty of good, too, of course. But that pretty much covers his personality. He hates things made in China. I had to peel the stickers off his new bike when I found him trying to figure out where it was made. Most of his clothes are tag-less after I found him throwing out clothes that didn't say Made in USA. He's a smart, compassionate, blunt, whirling dervish poster child for all things ADHD and unidentified emotional disorder. Basically- he's my ex husband. I live with a shorter version of my ex husband that I cannot divorce! But oh my goodness do I ever love that kid. So much so that it actually hurts. Words cannot describe. But he is e x h a u s t i n g. . .

Keegan is his father and AJ is me. That pretty much sums up their relationship, too. They're like a bitter divorced couple. I had no idea two brothers, less than three years apart could be so completely different. No wonder I'm so beat. Thank goodness the lil one has different genetics! 

They sure are handsome lil things, though!

TShirtPrinting.net Review

I recently received a screen printed T Shirt from TShirtPrinting.net. Normally something like this wouldn't appeal to me but being that my kids are involved in Karate and Dance, Its nice that I was able to check out a company that could come in handy when its time for the schools to order merchandise.

I ran that shirt through the ringer! I ordered a size Adult Small so that I could let the kids run around in it, use it for an art smock, PJs etc. I have washed it at least 6 times (in cold water) and thrown it in the dryer (inside out on hot) and their screen printed Monkey has held up better than expected. No peeling or cracking of the graphic. I will definitely be passing along this companies information to business owners that I know. Even better is they are not just a T Shirt company. Tank Tops, Sweatshirts, Kids sizes, Work wear... Even Hoodies! Who doesn't love a hoodie! Considering it is snowing here today, I know I will be keeping all of mine in the closet just a little bit longer!

stock photo

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.