GOODBYE 2011!!

I never thought I would love and hate a day so much. I have been begging for 2012 for months and now it is closely approaching I might cry. This has been the hardest year of my life and I have just sat around bitching about it. But I have to stop it, today. I hate resolutions and who the hell ever keeps them?... So I am just going to make a list of things I am going to do in 2012 with a little help from Pinterest

1. Care about myself

Joan via Tumblr

2. Wear pin curls in and don't pull my hair back before I walk in the store

Pin Curls via Vixen Vintage

3. Finish what I started. 6 months ago we bought this house.. Needless to say my kitchen looks 80% the same as it did here minus the lack of a counter top and 1/2 of the floor 

Kitchen New house

4. Dance in the rain! I use to do this every time it rained, one of the reasons I do not own and umbrella but lately I have just duck and ran. Next time I will slow down.

repinned no orginal

5. Get a new piercing

6. Live life like Lily! Just check out that rockin headband she wore it with everything for a week because she loves it.

7. Wear my own things, I have a pretty nice size vintage collection but I Never wear any of it out of the house. I love every piece I own but I don't want to "stand out" in my tiny town

Earrings I scored in November 

8. Take more pictures!! This was my only photo on last years 365

my 366

 9. Learn to blog and do it quickly! No joke I have been fighting with this one post for two days and this has taken me all day.

10. Be Happy! 

There are so many sad and upsetting things going on around me right now and every day I have a major freak out. I just need to stop, breath and be happy, 

GOODBYE 2011!!

I never thought I would love and hate a day so much. I have been begging for 2012 for months and now it is closely approaching I might cry. This has been the hardest year of my life and I have just sat around bitching about it. But I have to stop it, today. I hate resolutions and who the hell ever keeps them?... So I am just going to make a list of things I am going to do in 2012 with a little help from Pinterest

1. Care about myself

Joan via Tumblr

2. Wear pin curls in and don't pull my hair back before I walk in the store

Pin Curls via Vixen Vintage

3. Finish what I started. 6 months ago we bought this house.. Needless to say my kitchen looks 80% the same as it did here minus the lack of a counter top and 1/2 of the floor 

Kitchen New house

4. Dance in the rain! I use to do this every time it rained, one of the reasons I do not own and umbrella but lately I have just duck and ran. Next time I will slow down.

repinned no orginal

5. Get a new piercing

6. Live life like Lily! Just check out that rockin headband she wore it with everything for a week because she loves it.

7. Wear my own things, I have a pretty nice size vintage collection but I Never wear any of it out of the house. I love every piece I own but I don't want to "stand out" in my tiny town

Earrings I scored in November 

8. Take more pictures!! This was my only photo on last years 365

my 366

 9. Learn to blog and do it quickly! No joke I have been fighting with this one post for two days and this has taken me all day.

10. Be Happy! 

There are so many sad and upsetting things going on around me right now and every day I have a major freak out. I just need to stop, breath and be happy, 

It looks a little like Christmas...

      I am so not feeling the Christmas spirit this year, not sure if it is because I am flat broke or because my mom's 50th would have been Dec 26th. But I figured I would share a few photos of Christmas 2011 at our new house. The house if far from "done" but I hope to paint these ugly white walls around the new year.

vintage records 

My dads candles and mr. and mrs. clause i found at my grandmothers 

my grandmother ceramics 

kids art work from school

Vintage tree jars my mom kept these filled with kisses

Vintage tree #1 with shiny brites! 

  We have 3 full size trees up, yes 3! But for some reason picasa does not like me this month. Happy Holidays!

It looks a little like Christmas...

      I am so not feeling the Christmas spirit this year, not sure if it is because I am flat broke or because my mom's 50th would have been Dec 26th. But I figured I would share a few photos of Christmas 2011 at our new house. The house if far from "done" but I hope to paint these ugly white walls around the new year.

vintage records 

My dads candles and mr. and mrs. clause i found at my grandmothers 

my grandmother ceramics 

kids art work from school

Vintage tree jars my mom kept these filled with kisses

Vintage tree #1 with shiny brites! 

  We have 3 full size trees up, yes 3! But for some reason picasa does not like me this month. Happy Holidays!

Pssh-Pssh people

        Do you ever have random strangers ask you random questions? I usually answer them back with some random bs  sweet motherly comment or keep walking because I have more things to do than get stuck in a long conversation with a random stranger. 

             Here are a few of the many questions I have been asked.

Did you Have all those kids?.. (eyes wide open)

Nope! I went to the super market store and picked them all out. 

  Yes, I have 4 children and they all come from my body.

Did you plan/choose to have two boys and two girls?..

Why yes when I went to the super market doctor he asked what preference I had. So each time I said Girl, Boy, Girl, Boy lets make it even.

 I am sure You know the real answer to this question.

Where is you husband? (yes people ask this)

Who, what? I told you I bought these kids at the market why would I have a husband!?! 

  He is usually at work during the day and sleeping at night or trying to get ready for work bc he has to leave home at 4:45-5 am everyday.

Are you done?!? I honestly answer this one; Yes! cut tied and burned. 

I could never afford any more kids and am not in the mood to call TLC so I can build a bigger house. 

Where are you from? Umm here...  

For some reason people think I am not from the south? I guess if I don't sport any camo or have Alabama signs on my car so they can't tell.

How old are you? (This is when I have no kids in tow just the baby with me) Old as dirt lets see I have an 11 year old so I can buy this rated R dvd of Halloween but I have no clue of my age. Can you do math?  

Why does she talk so much? (Asked about me from those '"Pssh-Pssh" types to other random people sitting next to them)   SECRETS DON'T MAKE FRIENDS! 

     I don't really mind people asking questions because heck, how are you supposed to learn anything if you never ask anything has to be better than the "Pssh-Pssh" people.

*This post was written for Mama Kat's Writers Workshop prompt.*

 "Create an FAQ page for yourself that answers frequently asked questions if people were to frequently ask you questions. People make those up all the time. YOUR TURN!"

Pssh-Pssh people

        Do you ever have random strangers ask you random questions? I usually answer them back with some random bs  sweet motherly comment or keep walking because I have more things to do than get stuck in a long conversation with a random stranger. 

             Here are a few of the many questions I have been asked.

Did you Have all those kids?.. (eyes wide open)

Nope! I went to the super market store and picked them all out. 

  Yes, I have 4 children and they all come from my body.

Did you plan/choose to have two boys and two girls?..

Why yes when I went to the super market doctor he asked what preference I had. So each time I said Girl, Boy, Girl, Boy lets make it even.

 I am sure You know the real answer to this question.

Where is you husband? (yes people ask this)

Who, what? I told you I bought these kids at the market why would I have a husband!?! 

  He is usually at work during the day and sleeping at night or trying to get ready for work bc he has to leave home at 4:45-5 am everyday.

Are you done?!? I honestly answer this one; Yes! cut tied and burned. 

I could never afford any more kids and am not in the mood to call TLC so I can build a bigger house. 

Where are you from? Umm here...  

For some reason people think I am not from the south? I guess if I don't sport any camo or have Alabama signs on my car so they can't tell.

How old are you? (This is when I have no kids in tow just the baby with me) Old as dirt lets see I have an 11 year old so I can buy this rated R dvd of Halloween but I have no clue of my age. Can you do math?  

Why does she talk so much? (Asked about me from those '"Pssh-Pssh" types to other random people sitting next to them)   SECRETS DON'T MAKE FRIENDS! 

     I don't really mind people asking questions because heck, how are you supposed to learn anything if you never ask anything has to be better than the "Pssh-Pssh" people.

*This post was written for Mama Kat's Writers Workshop prompt.*

 "Create an FAQ page for yourself that answers frequently asked questions if people were to frequently ask you questions. People make those up all the time. YOUR TURN!"

I need to get off my A$$ (Word-full Wednesday)

             I really don't know what to say or do here anymore... So much has happened in the past four months and I feel like I have gotten nothing done. I have paint cans sitting on the front porch and boxes stacked to the ceiling in various corners of my "new" home. I am overwhelmed by the painting, fixing and the unpacking that needs to be done. I made the comment the other day that when we moved I left all of my domestication at the old house. H agreeing said that I don't do shit anymore. I know haven't washed a dish unless I needed it. I have had to buy 1,000 paper plates I am currently twitching my nose (it's not working) at that pile of clean laundry on the couch no one ever uses. It is all pretty sad. I want to unpack but as soon as I do I run across a photo or t-shirt and break down into tears over my mom. It really doesn't help that my Grandmother came by and unloaded all of my mothers things under my carport. I made H put everything but the photos in the shed. I don't know whats wrong with me. This move was supposed to make me happy and it has in a way but it has also made me as mad as a hornet. I hate the new school, both of my honor roll students are bring home test grades that are D's and I don't know what to do about it. I like the fact I know where I am going when I need to go somewhere. My aunt has moved closer to us which is pretty nice seeing how the girls love to spend time with her. But something just feels off. At least at the old house I didn't know anyone so I didn't mind being home all day or not seeing grown-ups but now we are close to everyone and we still don't see them or talk to out friends who live 15 minutes from us now. It also might be the fact that I hate at least one half of all the couples that we know or the fact that I am not a day time drinker (if any) that some people tend to be. It just feels like I am living in a big mess of drama and junk. So I guess I better go fake clean the kitchen and stop bitching about everything and just do it! 

I need to get off my A$$ (Word-full Wednesday)

             I really don't know what to say or do here anymore... So much has happened in the past four months and I feel like I have gotten nothing done. I have paint cans sitting on the front porch and boxes stacked to the ceiling in various corners of my "new" home. I am overwhelmed by the painting, fixing and the unpacking that needs to be done. I made the comment the other day that when we moved I left all of my domestication at the old house. H agreeing said that I don't do shit anymore. I know haven't washed a dish unless I needed it. I have had to buy 1,000 paper plates I am currently twitching my nose (it's not working) at that pile of clean laundry on the couch no one ever uses. It is all pretty sad. I want to unpack but as soon as I do I run across a photo or t-shirt and break down into tears over my mom. It really doesn't help that my Grandmother came by and unloaded all of my mothers things under my carport. I made H put everything but the photos in the shed. I don't know whats wrong with me. This move was supposed to make me happy and it has in a way but it has also made me as mad as a hornet. I hate the new school, both of my honor roll students are bring home test grades that are D's and I don't know what to do about it. I like the fact I know where I am going when I need to go somewhere. My aunt has moved closer to us which is pretty nice seeing how the girls love to spend time with her. But something just feels off. At least at the old house I didn't know anyone so I didn't mind being home all day or not seeing grown-ups but now we are close to everyone and we still don't see them or talk to out friends who live 15 minutes from us now. It also might be the fact that I hate at least one half of all the couples that we know or the fact that I am not a day time drinker (if any) that some people tend to be. It just feels like I am living in a big mess of drama and junk. So I guess I better go fake clean the kitchen and stop bitching about everything and just do it! 

Out with the old in with the new!!!

I have said this 1,000 times! But this is it, new house, new town, new birth year and school year! I am going to start over and change a few things up over here. But first I have 1,000 boxes to unpack. I will NEVER move again! 

          

Out with the old in with the new!!!

I have said this 1,000 times! But this is it, new house, new town, new birth year and school year! I am going to start over and change a few things up over here. But first I have 1,000 boxes to unpack. I will NEVER move again! 

          

Me

    Well as many blogs are different some are  for families, crafts, giveaways, business and some are just hodgepodge I kind feel mine is great hodgepodge. No real history or depth to who I am and what I am doing. Truth is I have no clue what I am doing. I want to find a direction a purpose with this lil thing called a blog. But how does one do that? I have zero time and zero writing skills. I guess I will start with a depth to me. I have no clue who I really am anymore.

        I am a mother of four children, I am a wife and a best friend I guess that's enough for most people. I am so mixed-up mashed-up most days, I have no clue how old I am or what color my hair is that day. I have never really fit in one group, all of my friends are different which seems normal to me until I watch a show or a movie with that group of 5-6 females that are all friends and seem to know everything about each other. I have no clue what that is like kind-of scared to ever find that one out. I feel like I have seen and experienced more than I should have at my age. I was born in a small town, spent my summers on a farm but still get called "citified" due to the fact I was raised in the city, most people say I am the most un-southern person they know, and I Still  get asked where am I from when I go anywhere in the south, which is really odd to me. Because I drink the hell out of some sweet-tea, swim in the lake and wear jeans and flip flops on Christmas. But I do not own a pair of overalls always, wear shoes outside of the house and visit the dentist every six moths. Just so you know there is a big line between redneck and southern. I do not want to be "country" but I do appreciate the open fields, dirt roads and stars in the sky. I am a big do-it-yourself-er, I hate asking for help. I am as cheap as they come, not due to money but due to the fact I know how things are made and would rather make it myself. I am into any thing vintage and hate people who don't get it. I would rather drive a 1954 Ford than a new Acura or BMW any day. I am not big on family, not sure why, I have always been like this even before my mother passed away. I talk wayy to much, I takes time to get me talking but when I do I never shut up. I dislike people who take sides on things they have no clue about and now I feel like I just wrote a personals ad. So yeah... that's me in one little post. 

Me

    Well as many blogs are different some are  for families, crafts, giveaways, business and some are just hodgepodge I kind feel mine is great hodgepodge. No real history or depth to who I am and what I am doing. Truth is I have no clue what I am doing. I want to find a direction a purpose with this lil thing called a blog. But how does one do that? I have zero time and zero writing skills. I guess I will start with a depth to me. I have no clue who I really am anymore.

        I am a mother of four children, I am a wife and a best friend I guess that's enough for most people. I am so mixed-up mashed-up most days, I have no clue how old I am or what color my hair is that day. I have never really fit in one group, all of my friends are different which seems normal to me until I watch a show or a movie with that group of 5-6 females that are all friends and seem to know everything about each other. I have no clue what that is like kind-of scared to ever find that one out. I feel like I have seen and experienced more than I should have at my age. I was born in a small town, spent my summers on a farm but still get called "citified" due to the fact I was raised in the city, most people say I am the most un-southern person they know, and I Still  get asked where am I from when I go anywhere in the south, which is really odd to me. Because I drink the hell out of some sweet-tea, swim in the lake and wear jeans and flip flops on Christmas. But I do not own a pair of overalls always, wear shoes outside of the house and visit the dentist every six moths. Just so you know there is a big line between redneck and southern. I do not want to be "country" but I do appreciate the open fields, dirt roads and stars in the sky. I am a big do-it-yourself-er, I hate asking for help. I am as cheap as they come, not due to money but due to the fact I know how things are made and would rather make it myself. I am into any thing vintage and hate people who don't get it. I would rather drive a 1954 Ford than a new Acura or BMW any day. I am not big on family, not sure why, I have always been like this even before my mother passed away. I talk wayy to much, I takes time to get me talking but when I do I never shut up. I dislike people who take sides on things they have no clue about and now I feel like I just wrote a personals ad. So yeah... that's me in one little post. 

What's going on..

I haven't been here in months, I shut down my shop over a month ago. I haven't been on twitter or facebook as much as I was before.  I would like to say it is because I have been busy packing or working on other things but I can't. I have just been a lazy/detracted mood. So much has been going on but I have just stood here and watched things pass me by. I am always too tired to even get dressed anymore and I know that's a sign of depression but I am not as much as depressed as I am overwhelmed. In one month my whole world has been flipped over and I still haven't figured it all out. Before my mom had passed I found a home, but I wasn't sure if we could get it due to time and money but we did and it is over 100 miles from where we are now. I am excited and very nervous all at the same time. I HATE moving and giving things away. When I was a kid we moved all the time so now I have none of my childhood things due to yard sales. I said I would never do that to my kids things, but some of this stuff is just taking up space. I also hate making the kids transfer schools, my oldest would be in a new school this year anyway so she is taking it okay but my second grader is pretty upset about it all. The new place is smaller and the boys will have to share a room, it is also an older home and will need much renovation. But that is one of those things I LOVE to do.  I am hoping my new post will be of me and some new keys in my hand. Until then I better back I have 11 days to pack 11 rooms and all the outside toys. Great fun...

  

What's going on..

I haven't been here in months, I shut down my shop over a month ago. I haven't been on twitter or facebook as much as I was before.  I would like to say it is because I have been busy packing or working on other things but I can't. I have just been a lazy/detracted mood. So much has been going on but I have just stood here and watched things pass me by. I am always too tired to even get dressed anymore and I know that's a sign of depression but I am not as much as depressed as I am overwhelmed. In one month my whole world has been flipped over and I still haven't figured it all out. Before my mom had passed I found a home, but I wasn't sure if we could get it due to time and money but we did and it is over 100 miles from where we are now. I am excited and very nervous all at the same time. I HATE moving and giving things away. When I was a kid we moved all the time so now I have none of my childhood things due to yard sales. I said I would never do that to my kids things, but some of this stuff is just taking up space. I also hate making the kids transfer schools, my oldest would be in a new school this year anyway so she is taking it okay but my second grader is pretty upset about it all. The new place is smaller and the boys will have to share a room, it is also an older home and will need much renovation. But that is one of those things I LOVE to do.  I am hoping my new post will be of me and some new keys in my hand. Until then I better back I have 11 days to pack 11 rooms and all the outside toys. Great fun...

  

Summer air reminds me of...

It's summer break for us and here in the south which means your stove will get a break for a good 3 months or longer. This is what inspired my Etsy treasury and an awesome song that reminds me of the summer of '05. *Note the song starts off sweet and low but will pick up louder for everyone that is "working" today.* 

Summer Air

Tornado Relief

     Sorry I left that last post at a dead end, I have been in a bit of funk lately, plus so busy with the school year ending and just life. But aside from that I wanted to share with you how great the people of the US have been, heck the whole world. After the storm not only did I stop everything I was doing to donate what was left of my couponing stockpile but I received a huge response from real life friends and twitter friends. I have had many people ask how to help, I have had people donate clothing, travel items, diapers, bibles and a huge donation from Tyndale with 3 large boxes of Bibles.
 

                         Now another large area has been hit by a deadly tornado; Joplin, Missouri. They also need our help. But many of us are Moms, students, teachers and are barely making our own ends meet. So what can we do with little of nothing? One thing to know is every little bit helps, so even if it is dropping a can off in the local food bank, someone will appreciated it. You also can always donate blood to your local LifeSouth or blood bank. Many people are have been injured and many blood banks have also lost their stored blood due the storm damage and loss of power. You can also text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10. And how about that gift card you have been carrying around for months and always forget to use.

 How about donating it to Alabama cards of Hope (site) Facebook  its so easy to do, I know I always have a few odd cards in my purse that I think I will use one day but never do. You can also submit your gift card electronically.  Another really cool way to help is a donation that gives you a chance to win a Guitar Autographed by Kenny Chesney, a lady won this really neat Guitar the day after the storms and although she loves it she feels too blessed to keep it to herself.   

Kenny Chesney Guitar

You can buy tickets for that here and find out more information on it on Facebook. 
It has almost been one month since the storms in Alabama and it is still shocking to me every day to drive down the road and see trees still down and homes and stores that I had just been to now gone. But I am now proud to say I am from Alabama and it's a joy to see how much closer we have all became as a community.
Thanks again to everyone for sending items many have been handed directly to families who needed them. 

25 Days later...

   As many of you know I live in Alabama , I used to be very wary of telling people that due to the Alabama stereotypes. But after 4-27-11 that has changed. I live in Northwest Alabama and our area was hit by many severe tornadoes, while I do not want to blog about that story due to the sadness I do want to share what is going on now.
A few days after the storm I donated a few baby things a girl who had lost everything, She and her 9 month old were in her apartment when it was picked up and dropped all around them, she shielded her baby with her own body and stood up after the storm to see nothing but the outside around her. When I met her she was in great spirits and happy to be alive. She had just gotten a rental car and temporary housing. I had a bed for her so I followed her to her new apartment. She passed the turn due to no landmarks or street signs. USARs were at every street corner, it looked like a movie set to me, a really bad movie set. We made it to her new home there were trees and power lines all over the ground, children played basketball on the courts as workers lifted lines and replace transformers right by. The air smelled like gas and pine with ammonia on the side. All  I could do was look around in shock. My 10 year old kept asking are those homes? I replied Once... The only way you could even tell there once stood a home were by the driveways and sidewalks.

 My aunt lost her home in the storms, yesterday she watched as workers knocked down her home, she stated "This would be so much easier if I was in Disneyland. Where is Ty yelling "Move That Bus"?  I am sure everyone is wishing it could be like a tv show. It has all been so surreal already.

Dip N Dots

Now it has been 25 days the donation drives are slowing down, the national news has continued on but it looks like it just happened yesterday. I know things can't be fixed over night, but I worry about the elderly lady who is still living in her home with the large tree sitting on her roof and the 20 foot hole in her yard, the power lines are laying in the ditch. I haven't seen workers anywhere in weeks. Most homes that had major damage have been torn down. But left in a pile where the home once stood with the front door sitting on top of the rubble, addresses are spray painted on each door to distinguish what home once stood there. I feel bad when I have to pass by and do nothing, I feel like I should stop help these people even with 4 kids sitting in the back seat.

These photos are not great, they are no meant to be my daughter took them from the back seat of my car, all she could say was "Oh my"