On the eve of her 2nd birthday I came across this video on my Flip camera from her 1st birthday party.
She looks so much smaller, but that sad cry face and the sound of her cry is the exact same. My sweet Bean Girl. ♥
Here's hoping that this bday party will make her happy, instead of making her cry.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Tune in Tuesdays!
This is the first installment of my new weekly post about music that I enjoy. Every Tuesday I'm going to post a Youtube video or Spotify link to a song that I'm really digging that week. I would love it if other bloggers would join in and share their favorite songs by participating in my blog hop and by grabbing my button. I'm always on the look out for new artists and songs to add to my Spotify playlists and thought this would be a fun way to do that.
Noah and the Whale - 5 Years Time. I'm not sure where I first heard this song, but I love love love it. ;) See what I did there? lol It's one of those feel good songs with a catchy beat and Bean and I love to crank the volume and dance around the living room to it. It makes me think of warm weather and good times with friends. I'm pretty sure that if you give it a chance and turn it up you'll find yourself dancing and smiling along with it too. Allllllllll together now!
If you'd like to share some of your favorite tunes with the group (which is just me at the moment, haha!) please be sure to sign up at the very bottom, and be sure to add my button (copy and paste the code under my Tune in Tuesdays button) to your blog post! :o)
Noah and the Whale - 5 Years Time. I'm not sure where I first heard this song, but I love love love it. ;) See what I did there? lol It's one of those feel good songs with a catchy beat and Bean and I love to crank the volume and dance around the living room to it. It makes me think of warm weather and good times with friends. I'm pretty sure that if you give it a chance and turn it up you'll find yourself dancing and smiling along with it too. Allllllllll together now!
If you'd like to share some of your favorite tunes with the group (which is just me at the moment, haha!) please be sure to sign up at the very bottom, and be sure to add my button (copy and paste the code under my Tune in Tuesdays button) to your blog post! :o)
Monday, August 6, 2012
100th post
I had wanted to write a super fun, extra special, post for my 100th post, but instead I'm sick with a horrible head cold and it seems like my brain has been replaced with cotton balls.
Bean was down with the sickness first, but then shared it with me. Thanks a lot, kid. I believe it's just a cold, but I haven't been sick in YEARS so I feel like I'm dying. Bean's congestion seeped into her ear and has an ear infection in her left ear. Thankfully, two days into taking her antibiotics and she's back to bouncing off the walls like normal. I, however, don't have health insurance (because we can't afford it, not because I'm not eligible) so I'm just hoping that my ears clear up before an infection sets in.
Despite being sick we had a nice weekend enjoying the cool(er) weather and the county fair. I think if Bean could, she'd say that her favorite part of the fair is the 4H animals. She really enjoyed mooing at the cows, baaing at the sheep and quacking at the ducks. My favorite part of the fair was the funnel cake. Mmmmm. It was delicious! Jeff had high hopes that Bean would want to go on ALL THE RIDES
now that she's (almost) two, but it didn't quite work out that way. First of all, the tickets are $1/each, and even the little kiddie rides cost 3 tickets - which really meant 6 tickets since it's not like Bean-Girl would have gone alone. That's $6 to ride ONE ride, ONE time. Since she is obsessed with Thomas we thought the train ride would be a good one. It was easy, the track went in an oval shape, there were no hills to climb - and then fall, and it moved slow. While waiting our turn she looked like she was excited. I kept telling her how fun it'd be, etc. But the SECOND we entered the gate and I put her in the train car she started crying. First loop around was all crying. Big tears, "No!"ing, and reaching out for Jeff and my mom who were just outside the gate trying to get her to smile for a picture. Second loop she only cried through half of it, but continued to sniffle and "...no...." quietly. I think there were 6 loops around the track, but there was never any point where she decided it was fun. I think she just hated it less by the time we got off. (Sorry I didn't take any pictures.... it really didn't even occur to me what with being sick and all.)
By the time we left the fair it was almost 2 hours passed her naptime, and of course she fell asleep in the car, but she only got about 15-20 mins of sleep before we were home. You may think that I could have gingerly unbuckled her carseat clips, picked her up, coaxed her head onto my shoulder, walked into the house, took her shoes off, and then laid her into her crib to finish her nap. If you thought that was what would happen you'd be wrong. I did all those things, but she refused to go back to sleep.
My cold, plus about 1,000 farm animals, and 5 hours of sunshine, left me feeling exhausted and like I'd hit a brick wall. Jeff graciously let me lay down and try to take a nap while he entertained Bean. I tried to nap, I drifted in and out of sleep, but I didn't wake feeling refreshed. After 2 hours I got up, sick of coughing and gagging on sinus drainage, and decided I had to get some better meds. Careful though, peeps, don't take too many decongestants at once like I did - accidentally - because you will feel drunk. And nauseous. By the time I fell asleep last night, breathing effortlessly thanks to Afrin, I crashed hard. I slept straight through until my alarm went off at 7:15.
I still feel like crap today, but oh well. Emily is here, she has theater class Monday-Thursday and dance class on Friday. Bean's second birthday is Thursday and I want to plan something fun for her that day. Her 2yo well check is Friday, and her birthday party is Saturday. I have a LOT to do this week, so regardless of the fact that I'm not feeling well I need to get stuff done. I think this is the worst part of being an adult/parent. The fact that you can't just curl up under the covers and have your mom or spouse take care of you. No, no. Not anymore. Now you have to go get your own medicine. You still have to change those dirty diapers. You still have to feed your family. That laundry is still taunting you, etc. Take heed young people - enjoy your sick days. Soak in all the pampering your mom gives you, take lots of looooooooooong naps, watch crappy tv and read good books. Maybe even milk it for an extra day if you can because once you grow up you don't get sick days anymore.
Bean was down with the sickness first, but then shared it with me. Thanks a lot, kid. I believe it's just a cold, but I haven't been sick in YEARS so I feel like I'm dying. Bean's congestion seeped into her ear and has an ear infection in her left ear. Thankfully, two days into taking her antibiotics and she's back to bouncing off the walls like normal. I, however, don't have health insurance (because we can't afford it, not because I'm not eligible) so I'm just hoping that my ears clear up before an infection sets in.
now that she's (almost) two, but it didn't quite work out that way. First of all, the tickets are $1/each, and even the little kiddie rides cost 3 tickets - which really meant 6 tickets since it's not like Bean-Girl would have gone alone. That's $6 to ride ONE ride, ONE time. Since she is obsessed with Thomas we thought the train ride would be a good one. It was easy, the track went in an oval shape, there were no hills to climb - and then fall, and it moved slow. While waiting our turn she looked like she was excited. I kept telling her how fun it'd be, etc. But the SECOND we entered the gate and I put her in the train car she started crying. First loop around was all crying. Big tears, "No!"ing, and reaching out for Jeff and my mom who were just outside the gate trying to get her to smile for a picture. Second loop she only cried through half of it, but continued to sniffle and "...no...." quietly. I think there were 6 loops around the track, but there was never any point where she decided it was fun. I think she just hated it less by the time we got off. (Sorry I didn't take any pictures.... it really didn't even occur to me what with being sick and all.)
By the time we left the fair it was almost 2 hours passed her naptime, and of course she fell asleep in the car, but she only got about 15-20 mins of sleep before we were home. You may think that I could have gingerly unbuckled her carseat clips, picked her up, coaxed her head onto my shoulder, walked into the house, took her shoes off, and then laid her into her crib to finish her nap. If you thought that was what would happen you'd be wrong. I did all those things, but she refused to go back to sleep.
My cold, plus about 1,000 farm animals, and 5 hours of sunshine, left me feeling exhausted and like I'd hit a brick wall. Jeff graciously let me lay down and try to take a nap while he entertained Bean. I tried to nap, I drifted in and out of sleep, but I didn't wake feeling refreshed. After 2 hours I got up, sick of coughing and gagging on sinus drainage, and decided I had to get some better meds. Careful though, peeps, don't take too many decongestants at once like I did - accidentally - because you will feel drunk. And nauseous. By the time I fell asleep last night, breathing effortlessly thanks to Afrin, I crashed hard. I slept straight through until my alarm went off at 7:15.
I still feel like crap today, but oh well. Emily is here, she has theater class Monday-Thursday and dance class on Friday. Bean's second birthday is Thursday and I want to plan something fun for her that day. Her 2yo well check is Friday, and her birthday party is Saturday. I have a LOT to do this week, so regardless of the fact that I'm not feeling well I need to get stuff done. I think this is the worst part of being an adult/parent. The fact that you can't just curl up under the covers and have your mom or spouse take care of you. No, no. Not anymore. Now you have to go get your own medicine. You still have to change those dirty diapers. You still have to feed your family. That laundry is still taunting you, etc. Take heed young people - enjoy your sick days. Soak in all the pampering your mom gives you, take lots of looooooooooong naps, watch crappy tv and read good books. Maybe even milk it for an extra day if you can because once you grow up you don't get sick days anymore.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Winnie the Pooh
One and a half weeks before Bean's 2nd birthday I took her to her very first movie at the movie theater. The movie theater does a thing in the summer where they play pre-released kids movies at 10:00 in the morning, one day of the week throughout the summer vacation. The tickets are deeply discounted, the snacks are deeply discounted, the leave the lights dimly lit, and all the movies are rated G or PG. After looking over the list I decided that I'd give this a shot with Winnie the Pooh. It seemed the most age appropriate, and it was the shortest in length. Still, I was a bit nervous that she'd a.)freak out in the dark theater with the loud volume and huge screen, or b.)want to leave 20 mins into the film and have a complete meltdown if I tried to convince her to stay. The fact that the tickets only cost $1 made the choice seem obvious; that even if she did BOTH things that it wouldn't be much money lost, so I should go for it.
I had planned on taking her to the movie before I started watching Emily, and before she started taking her swimming classes, and was worried that I'd have to give up on the movie to drive Emily to swimming since her class is at 10:40. Thankfully, my mom was able to take Em to swim and I was still going to be able to take Bean-Girl to the theater!
The morning of the movie I texted with my friend Tessa (Violet's mom) and because her previous plans fell through she and Violet were able to meet us at the theater - which made it a first for both girls! (It was also Violet's actual birthday, so that was a fun birthday outing!!) Before leaving I popped some popcorn on the stove and sprinkled it with kettle corn flavoring, packed water bottles, and grabbed my girl's bunny for added security in case she needed to snuggle.
Bean was a bit nervous through the previews - which were for cartoons aimed at older kids and were a bit dark and Halloweenie themed - but once Winnie the Pooh started she (and Violet) were entranced.
Violet, who LOVES Winnie the Pooh, was cracking up during the opening song/title sequence which made Bean (and us moms) giggle too. True to form, neither girl wanted the snacks that their mom brought, so Violet ate the popcorn and Bean ate Violet's grapes and cheddar bunnies. It was really sweet to hear a theater full of little kids cracking up when Pooh would fall down the words on the page, or when Tigger was bouncing all over the screen - and I was surprised at how many jokes were placed throughout the movie for the adults to enjoy.
With the exception of a small case of the fidgets (in Bean's case) at about the 40 min mark, there was no fussing, no asking to leave, no wanting to get down, no potty emergencies, no choking on popcorn or grapes... I had worried for nothing!
Bean came away with the knowledge - and love - of Winnie the Pooh, a new word: Honey, and another great adventure with her BFF Violet. I'm so glad that the girls enjoyed it, and I'm so so so glad that I was able to take her and enjoy it with her. When I was little I really loved Winnie the Pooh, but my love for him had diminished greatly as I grew into an adult, but now that my sweet girl has a soft spot for him I find that mine is back, too. ♥
I had planned on taking her to the movie before I started watching Emily, and before she started taking her swimming classes, and was worried that I'd have to give up on the movie to drive Emily to swimming since her class is at 10:40. Thankfully, my mom was able to take Em to swim and I was still going to be able to take Bean-Girl to the theater!
The morning of the movie I texted with my friend Tessa (Violet's mom) and because her previous plans fell through she and Violet were able to meet us at the theater - which made it a first for both girls! (It was also Violet's actual birthday, so that was a fun birthday outing!!) Before leaving I popped some popcorn on the stove and sprinkled it with kettle corn flavoring, packed water bottles, and grabbed my girl's bunny for added security in case she needed to snuggle.
Bean was a bit nervous through the previews - which were for cartoons aimed at older kids and were a bit dark and Halloweenie themed - but once Winnie the Pooh started she (and Violet) were entranced.
Violet, who LOVES Winnie the Pooh, was cracking up during the opening song/title sequence which made Bean (and us moms) giggle too. True to form, neither girl wanted the snacks that their mom brought, so Violet ate the popcorn and Bean ate Violet's grapes and cheddar bunnies. It was really sweet to hear a theater full of little kids cracking up when Pooh would fall down the words on the page, or when Tigger was bouncing all over the screen - and I was surprised at how many jokes were placed throughout the movie for the adults to enjoy.
With the exception of a small case of the fidgets (in Bean's case) at about the 40 min mark, there was no fussing, no asking to leave, no wanting to get down, no potty emergencies, no choking on popcorn or grapes... I had worried for nothing!
Bean came away with the knowledge - and love - of Winnie the Pooh, a new word: Honey, and another great adventure with her BFF Violet. I'm so glad that the girls enjoyed it, and I'm so so so glad that I was able to take her and enjoy it with her. When I was little I really loved Winnie the Pooh, but my love for him had diminished greatly as I grew into an adult, but now that my sweet girl has a soft spot for him I find that mine is back, too. ♥
30 Things in 30 Days... About Me!
I tried doing one of these link-up memes before, but I just couldn't/wouldn't/didn't keep up with it every day. Knowing myself, I wouldn't keep up with this one if I had to do it daily, either. So, instead, I'll post my answers on the weekends. So, today's entry will answer 4 of the questions. Next week's will answer 7. I should be able to do this once a week... here we go!
(I first came across this challenge on Six Cherries on Top, who linked up with Best of Both Worlds, who originally got the list/inspiration from Hopes and Dreams.)
1. List 20 random facts about yourself.
2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.
3. Describe your relationship with your parents.
4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.
5. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?
6. What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?
7. What is your dream job, and why?
8. What are 5 passions you have?
9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.
10. Describe your most embarrassing moment.
11. Describe 10 pet peeves you have.
12. Describe a typical day in your current life.
13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.
14. Describe 5 strengths you have.
15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
16. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
18. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?
19. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
20. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.
21. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?
22. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
23. List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.
24. Describe your family dynamic of your childhood vs. your family dynamic now.
25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?
26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?
27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?
28. What is your love language?
29. What do you think people misunderstand most about you?
30. List 10 things you would hope to be remembered for
1. List 20 random facts about yourself.
1. I just turned 27
2. I'm a 'Cancer', and yes I really do think that somehow I am driven by that sign.
3. I worked at Starbucks when I was in college. I loved it, but I don't like coffee.
4. I'm a vegetarian who eats vegan as much as possible.
5. I do miss pepperoni pizza though.
6. I love TV. Some of my fave shows are: Gilmore Girls, SATC, Castle, Game of Thrones, SYTYCD
7. I'm crafty.
8. I have 3.5 tattoos. "3.5? How can you have .5 a tattoo?" I've had 4 tattoos tattooed on my body, but the 4th one covered up the 3rd one, so when you look at me you still only see 3.
9. I want to eventually go back to college to become an IBCLC.
10. I'm a SAHM and love it. It was something I always wanted, but didn't know if it'd happen for me.
11. I didn't get my ears pierced, for reals, until I was 19. I had gotten them done when I was 7, but they closed up. Then I got the top, cartilage part pierced when I was 16, but I let that close up when I was 21. Most of my friends got many different body parts pierced in high school but I just couldn't since I hate needles. "But... you have 3.5 tattoos!!" Yes, but tattoo guns don't look like big, scary, needles coming straight for me.
12. I moved across the country 4 times before 3rd grade, and then didn't move to another state until I was 25.
13. My daughter is a 'Leo' and that terrifies me. Every friend/co-worker/boss that I've had that was a Leo didn't end well. We always started out BFFs, but before long it imploded.
14. I love to take photos but am clueless on the whole fancy-editing-in-Photoshop front.
15. I have two associate degrees. Too bad they don't magically add up to a bachelors degree. Associates degrees are pretty much useless.
16. I got married at Walt Disney World.
17. Incubus is all my all time favorite band. I don't care if Jeff makes fun of me for it.
18. I love to sleep with the covers (sheet and comforter, plus blanket in the winter) up to my chin. In the summer I get frustrated and don't sleep well when I can't do that.
19. I have a horrrrrrrrible sweet tooth. If there are sweets in the house I cannot rest until they're all gone.
20. I'm terrified of roller coasters.
2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.
1. Speaking/Performing in front of people. IDK why it's so bad for me but I can't get up in front of a group of people - even if I know them - and talk without turning bright red, shaking, sweating, rocking back and forth on the balls of my feet, 'um'ing 100 times, and practically whispering - while my voice is shaking - so it's pretty much impossible to hear me.
2. The ocean. I LOVE the ocean. It's quite possibly my favorite place/thing. (Not sure if it should be a place or a thing, since I've been in different oceans on different coasts and I love them all.) But, I watch Discovery Channel, I know all about what is in the ocean, and all about the fact that we have NO idea what else is in the ocean that hasn't been discovered yet. I took Marine Biology in school, I know all about how it's the most vast environment on Earth, and yet we know the least about it. AND, I swear I almost drowned once when I was about rib-deep and was playing in the waves when all of a sudden the sand completely slipped out from under my feet. I was underwater, clawing at the sand, trying to dig my way back to the surface while the waves just kept crashing on top of me over and over. When I finally emerged I immediately got back onto the beach and haven't gone deeper than my knees since.
3. Domestic violence situations. Yelling, shoving, etc. It makes me really uncomfortable/shaky even just hearing someone in another apartment/aisle/street/car/etc being yelled at. My first boyfriend was a major douche bag.... 'nuff said.
3. Describe your relationship with your parents.
I don't have a relationship with my dad. My mom left him when I was less than a year old, and he chose to not have any sort of relationship with me. He doesn't have one with my two older siblings - from a previous marriage - either, so it's kind of his M.O.
My mom raised me as a single mother. She gave up everything to be the best mother she could for me. Unfortunately for her, she got a very emotional daughter. My mom isn't real good with emotion, it makes her uncomfortable - though she's better now than she was when I was in middle school. (Isn't almost everyone who was born in the 50s weird when it comes to dealing with emotion? The 50s were the era of, "Don't talk about it, just shove it aside!" And I needed to talk about stuff right then and there, much to my mom's dismay.) We fought a LOT from the time I turned 12-13 until I was about 21. So, I'm sure that sucked for her. It sucked for me, too. We're better now. I enjoy spending time with her. I enjoy watching her be Mimi to my daughter. I enjoy talking to her on the phone. She's become more of a friend - something I thought would NEVER happen after hearing, "I'm not your friend, I'm your MOTHER!" about 400 times growing up - but I'm glad our relationship has morphed into what it has. Now that I'm a mother I really do recognize and appreciate all the sacrifices she made for me, and I'm so grateful for her being my mom.
4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.
1. Don't date him. He's an abusive asshole.
2. You can't change your friends, no matter how much you worry about them. Let them make mistakes, be there for them when they come to you, don't be so judgmental.
3. Stop comparing your appearance to other girls.
4. Step outside of your comfort zone more often.
5. DO YOUR HOMEWORK! (Instead, I had to bust my ass my senior year to bring my grades up when all my friends got to take it easy with only 4 or 5 classes instead of 6.)
6. If you don't want your mom to think the worst of you and your behavior, stop doing the same with her.
7. Don't give his absence so much power over your confidence when it comes to guys.
8. When you do fight with your friends don't go for the low blows. You'll want these people in your life after high school and they'll never forget the things you said to them.
9. Don't ever leave the house wearing socks with sandals. (I know, it was only one time, but that was one time too many!)
10. Love yourself more.
click this button to be taken to the 30 Day Challenge on Best of Both Worlds' blog.
(I first came across this challenge on Six Cherries on Top, who linked up with Best of Both Worlds, who originally got the list/inspiration from Hopes and Dreams.)
1. List 20 random facts about yourself.
2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.
3. Describe your relationship with your parents.
4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.
5. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?
6. What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?
7. What is your dream job, and why?
8. What are 5 passions you have?
9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.
10. Describe your most embarrassing moment.
11. Describe 10 pet peeves you have.
12. Describe a typical day in your current life.
13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.
14. Describe 5 strengths you have.
15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
16. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
18. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?
19. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
20. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.
21. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?
22. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
23. List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.
24. Describe your family dynamic of your childhood vs. your family dynamic now.
25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?
26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?
27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?
28. What is your love language?
29. What do you think people misunderstand most about you?
30. List 10 things you would hope to be remembered for
1. List 20 random facts about yourself.
1. I just turned 27
2. I'm a 'Cancer', and yes I really do think that somehow I am driven by that sign.
3. I worked at Starbucks when I was in college. I loved it, but I don't like coffee.
4. I'm a vegetarian who eats vegan as much as possible.
5. I do miss pepperoni pizza though.
6. I love TV. Some of my fave shows are: Gilmore Girls, SATC, Castle, Game of Thrones, SYTYCD
7. I'm crafty.
8. I have 3.5 tattoos. "3.5? How can you have .5 a tattoo?" I've had 4 tattoos tattooed on my body, but the 4th one covered up the 3rd one, so when you look at me you still only see 3.
9. I want to eventually go back to college to become an IBCLC.
10. I'm a SAHM and love it. It was something I always wanted, but didn't know if it'd happen for me.
11. I didn't get my ears pierced, for reals, until I was 19. I had gotten them done when I was 7, but they closed up. Then I got the top, cartilage part pierced when I was 16, but I let that close up when I was 21. Most of my friends got many different body parts pierced in high school but I just couldn't since I hate needles. "But... you have 3.5 tattoos!!" Yes, but tattoo guns don't look like big, scary, needles coming straight for me.
12. I moved across the country 4 times before 3rd grade, and then didn't move to another state until I was 25.
13. My daughter is a 'Leo' and that terrifies me. Every friend/co-worker/boss that I've had that was a Leo didn't end well. We always started out BFFs, but before long it imploded.
14. I love to take photos but am clueless on the whole fancy-editing-in-Photoshop front.
15. I have two associate degrees. Too bad they don't magically add up to a bachelors degree. Associates degrees are pretty much useless.
16. I got married at Walt Disney World.
17. Incubus is all my all time favorite band. I don't care if Jeff makes fun of me for it.
18. I love to sleep with the covers (sheet and comforter, plus blanket in the winter) up to my chin. In the summer I get frustrated and don't sleep well when I can't do that.
19. I have a horrrrrrrrible sweet tooth. If there are sweets in the house I cannot rest until they're all gone.
20. I'm terrified of roller coasters.
2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.
1. Speaking/Performing in front of people. IDK why it's so bad for me but I can't get up in front of a group of people - even if I know them - and talk without turning bright red, shaking, sweating, rocking back and forth on the balls of my feet, 'um'ing 100 times, and practically whispering - while my voice is shaking - so it's pretty much impossible to hear me.
2. The ocean. I LOVE the ocean. It's quite possibly my favorite place/thing. (Not sure if it should be a place or a thing, since I've been in different oceans on different coasts and I love them all.) But, I watch Discovery Channel, I know all about what is in the ocean, and all about the fact that we have NO idea what else is in the ocean that hasn't been discovered yet. I took Marine Biology in school, I know all about how it's the most vast environment on Earth, and yet we know the least about it. AND, I swear I almost drowned once when I was about rib-deep and was playing in the waves when all of a sudden the sand completely slipped out from under my feet. I was underwater, clawing at the sand, trying to dig my way back to the surface while the waves just kept crashing on top of me over and over. When I finally emerged I immediately got back onto the beach and haven't gone deeper than my knees since.
3. Domestic violence situations. Yelling, shoving, etc. It makes me really uncomfortable/shaky even just hearing someone in another apartment/aisle/street/car/etc being yelled at. My first boyfriend was a major douche bag.... 'nuff said.
3. Describe your relationship with your parents.
I don't have a relationship with my dad. My mom left him when I was less than a year old, and he chose to not have any sort of relationship with me. He doesn't have one with my two older siblings - from a previous marriage - either, so it's kind of his M.O.
My mom raised me as a single mother. She gave up everything to be the best mother she could for me. Unfortunately for her, she got a very emotional daughter. My mom isn't real good with emotion, it makes her uncomfortable - though she's better now than she was when I was in middle school. (Isn't almost everyone who was born in the 50s weird when it comes to dealing with emotion? The 50s were the era of, "Don't talk about it, just shove it aside!" And I needed to talk about stuff right then and there, much to my mom's dismay.) We fought a LOT from the time I turned 12-13 until I was about 21. So, I'm sure that sucked for her. It sucked for me, too. We're better now. I enjoy spending time with her. I enjoy watching her be Mimi to my daughter. I enjoy talking to her on the phone. She's become more of a friend - something I thought would NEVER happen after hearing, "I'm not your friend, I'm your MOTHER!" about 400 times growing up - but I'm glad our relationship has morphed into what it has. Now that I'm a mother I really do recognize and appreciate all the sacrifices she made for me, and I'm so grateful for her being my mom.
4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.
1. Don't date him. He's an abusive asshole.
2. You can't change your friends, no matter how much you worry about them. Let them make mistakes, be there for them when they come to you, don't be so judgmental.
3. Stop comparing your appearance to other girls.
4. Step outside of your comfort zone more often.
5. DO YOUR HOMEWORK! (Instead, I had to bust my ass my senior year to bring my grades up when all my friends got to take it easy with only 4 or 5 classes instead of 6.)
6. If you don't want your mom to think the worst of you and your behavior, stop doing the same with her.
7. Don't give his absence so much power over your confidence when it comes to guys.
8. When you do fight with your friends don't go for the low blows. You'll want these people in your life after high school and they'll never forget the things you said to them.
9. Don't ever leave the house wearing socks with sandals. (I know, it was only one time, but that was one time too many!)
10. Love yourself more.
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Thursday, August 2, 2012
Tie Dye
When my Nugget was here we made tie dye shirts. I was shocked at how simple it was to do the fun swirly pattern. When I was little and tried to make tie dye shirts we never made the swirly patterns, and they never turned out like I wanted them to.
After talking to Rebecca about it we decided that I would get the stuff to make them and I'd help Emily make some shirts while she was in my care. She needed my help twisting the shirt and putting the rubber bands on, but she did the dying by herself. She said a few times, while pouring the dye on, how 'cool' it was and that she loved the colors.
I'm pretty sure the hardest part for her was waiting until she came back the next day to see the finished shirts. I wish I would have gotten a picture of her surprised expression when I revealed her shirts. She was amazed that SHE made such a cool design on her shirt. I love when kids are proud of something they make/do.
Step one (after the shirt is prepared and rubber banded): Prepare a workspace. Put down newspaper, trash bags, do it outside on the grass - something. What the dye touches, it WILL stain that color. (I just set up on the kitchen floor. Pushed my rugs out of the way, and put saran wrap on a cookie sheet for our 'workspace'.) Put saran wrap on your workspace, to put your shirt on top of. You'll need to wrap it in saran wrap while the dye colors the fabric.
Step two: Put plastic gloves on. (Rinse and save them after you dye the shirt. You'll need them to take the rubber bands off.)
Step three: Sit kid down, let them go nuts. (Em didn't really go nuts, she was pretty timid; "What color should I put here?" "Whichever color you want." "But I don't want it to look bad." "It won't, it'll look great." etc.)
Step four: After the top side has been dyed you'll need to carefully flip the balled up shirt over so that the bottom - now facing up - side can be dyed too. I did need to help her by pointing out which color she put on the bottom of that section so that she'd put the same color on the top.
Step five: Wrap up the dyed shirt in the saran wrap that you put under it and put it up high/out of reach for 6-8 hours (longer for more saturated colors).
Step six: After the waiting time is up put the gloves back on and take the rubber bands off. (Like a fool I threw the gloves away and my fingers ended up discolored for 3 days.) Drop them - ONLY the tie dye shirts, don't put any other clothes with them - into the washing machine. Put it on the biggest load size and fill it with warm water (no detergent/fabric softener), run it through a normal wash/rinse cycle. After they've been washed, toss them in the dryer and tumble until dry. Once they're dry they can be worn and then tossed in the normal laundry with other colored clothes.
Step seven: Step back and be amazed/proud of your super awesome tie dye shirt.
After talking to Rebecca about it we decided that I would get the stuff to make them and I'd help Emily make some shirts while she was in my care. She needed my help twisting the shirt and putting the rubber bands on, but she did the dying by herself. She said a few times, while pouring the dye on, how 'cool' it was and that she loved the colors.
I'm pretty sure the hardest part for her was waiting until she came back the next day to see the finished shirts. I wish I would have gotten a picture of her surprised expression when I revealed her shirts. She was amazed that SHE made such a cool design on her shirt. I love when kids are proud of something they make/do.
Step one (after the shirt is prepared and rubber banded): Prepare a workspace. Put down newspaper, trash bags, do it outside on the grass - something. What the dye touches, it WILL stain that color. (I just set up on the kitchen floor. Pushed my rugs out of the way, and put saran wrap on a cookie sheet for our 'workspace'.) Put saran wrap on your workspace, to put your shirt on top of. You'll need to wrap it in saran wrap while the dye colors the fabric.
Step two: Put plastic gloves on. (Rinse and save them after you dye the shirt. You'll need them to take the rubber bands off.)
Step three: Sit kid down, let them go nuts. (Em didn't really go nuts, she was pretty timid; "What color should I put here?" "Whichever color you want." "But I don't want it to look bad." "It won't, it'll look great." etc.)
Bean sat by and observed, she thought it was so 'coo' too.
Step four: After the top side has been dyed you'll need to carefully flip the balled up shirt over so that the bottom - now facing up - side can be dyed too. I did need to help her by pointing out which color she put on the bottom of that section so that she'd put the same color on the top.
Step five: Wrap up the dyed shirt in the saran wrap that you put under it and put it up high/out of reach for 6-8 hours (longer for more saturated colors).
Step six: After the waiting time is up put the gloves back on and take the rubber bands off. (Like a fool I threw the gloves away and my fingers ended up discolored for 3 days.) Drop them - ONLY the tie dye shirts, don't put any other clothes with them - into the washing machine. Put it on the biggest load size and fill it with warm water (no detergent/fabric softener), run it through a normal wash/rinse cycle. After they've been washed, toss them in the dryer and tumble until dry. Once they're dry they can be worn and then tossed in the normal laundry with other colored clothes.
Step seven: Step back and be amazed/proud of your super awesome tie dye shirt.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
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