New Beginning---again.

I am putting this out in the cosmos because then I have to follow through. It is time for a new beginning, but one that is completely positive and that we follow all the way. I am going to start working out more (I can't use the baby weight excuse since Elijah just turned a year old) and taking better care of myself. I confess, I usually go to bed without washing my face! I know, gross, but no more! I spent about $50 on about 8oz of really good facial cleaner and moisturizer, so I have to use it or it was a huge waste of money. I have fallen into the "junk food vegetarian" rut, but no more! The motto is "junk in, junk out" I want the good foods in and to stay in and do good things in my body. This weekend Brit and I are starting our Financial Peace University by Dave Ramsey and we are so excited! I can't even imagine what it is going to be like to be completely debt free. I have looked through the book a little and we listen to his show. Dave makes it sound so simple and it makes you just slap yourself in the head because it makes perfect sense and you can't believe you have been so stupid.....I will keep you posted!

Crime Shows = My Educated Paranoia

I am a paranoid person. Always have been, thanks in part to my mother (God Bless her). She wanted me to be aware of the dangers in the world so I could be prepared. Good intentions aside, I became extremely paranoid. By 5, I was opening my car door from as far away as I could reach and jumping into the car, thus avoiding the "bad guy" under the car that would cut my Achilles tendon. Why didn't I just look under the car? Because there had been cases where people did that and the "bad guy" sprayed them with mace. It's a no win situation though because I always hit my head on the car. Clever huh? I would be a much harder target if I knocked myself unconscious first. By high school, I carried a large letter opener in the side pocket of my car. It was around the time car jacking was becoming more popular and I figured I could lock my door, grab his arm, (sorry for the "his" stereotype), pull him partially into the car and stab him in the neck with the letter opener. I, of course, have such lightening quick reflexes. I often caught myself thinking up scenarios of attacks or accidents and my escape plan or attack plan. Even sitting at home I would think "OK, if someone broke in through the back window, what would I do?" Paranoid? Crazy? Just a little.
Now, I am a big fan of crime shows. CSI, Without a Trace, and Bones are some of my tops. These shows are great, but I have realized that now they are just educating my paranoia. I watch the shows and am amazed by all the things people can do to one another that I never thought of! Now, I have to come up with game plans for all of those too. Another side effect of these shows is that I catch myself "checking out" people and places. If someone in the grocery store parking lot looks suspicious to me (you know the type, squinty eyes, scar across their face....) I start memorizing details. What they are wearing, what their car looks like, things like that. That way, the next day when someone matching that description has committed a crime and the police are asking for anyone with details, I can help. I am surprised though at how many people appear suspicious :D I have so many descriptions in my head that their is no way I could help anyone.
Having a child hasn't helped either, because now you have to calculate in to my brain kidnappings and children being sold on the black market........maybe I'll just stick to Oprah and Martha Stewart.

My Etsy Favorites

For those of you that have never heard about Etsy, you are missing out. It is like Ebay, except all the items are handmade. I know what you might be thinking, because the first time I heard "handmade" I thought about one of those tissue boxes with macaroni glued to the top I made for my mom. Well, let me tell you that these people are way more talented! I would swear that some of these items were made in a factory because of how good they look. It is better than buying a machine made item though because you are getting an item that someone made with love and care. An item that someone made as perfect as they could, an item that they take pride in and that makes them way more valuable.

Here are just a few of my favorite items I have found in my searches (I am including the links to their Etsy shops, so show them some love):

This Jack Sparrow was sold by GeekCentralStation. The attention to detail is really amazing!
This Darth Vader mouse was done by TheHouseofMouse. Anna makes a mouse for every taste from super heroes to movies to a mouse to fit your job.
Cheryl at JewelByNature does the most amazing steampunk, vintage and one of a kind jewelry at really amazing prices!

Grocery Shopping Tip of the Week

I am a coupon clipper. I cut my coupons when I get the Sunday paper and put them in my handy dandy little pouch. I hate the handy dandy little pouch when I get to the store though. There I am trying to decide what kind of butter to buy, I pull out my pouch, try to sort through it and remember which section I put butter in, my son grabs my arm, coupons go flying, I get in every one's way and I give up on the coupons.

To fix this problem I deal with coupons before going to the store. I get my shopping list out and if butter is on the list, I pull out all the butter coupons and clip them to the list. I try to put them in the order I know I get items in (we all have our game plan for shopping routes). That way I can decide which brand to buy based on the savings and end price and no crawling on the floor for my coupons.

Happy shopping!

Caldwell Zoo, Tyler, Texas

I love animals! I love them so much, I don't even eat them :D I have always loved going to the zoo even though it does make me a little sad sometimes. I have been to the Fort Worth Zoo, the National Zoo in Washington D.C. and many others, but I have to say that Caldwell Zoo in Tyler, Texas is one of my favorite! It is extremely clean and well laid out. The walkways are beautiful and very well shaded. They have an area near the Africa exhibit that you can get food or a drink and sit at a table overlooking the lions, zebras, elephants and so many others without walls (you are up higher and there is a sort of canal between you and them and around the lions). All and all I think it was a great experience!

Witty Wisdom for New Moms

I know that this is my first child and he is only a year old, but there are a few things I have learned that I thought I would share. I realized most of these things after the first month of carrying Eli around like an egg that could break at any moment.

1. You have to take time to eat and sleep when you can. Being rundown does not help your baby and chances are you will be so drained you may accidently bump your babies head into a door facing.
2. Hitting a door facing will not hurt your baby--he may not even wake up.
3. Finding food you can eat with one hand is very important.
4. Salad is a very questionable one handed food.
5. Babies do not like lettuce coated in ranch dressing dropped on their heads.
6. No matter how fast you think you are with a rag or diaper, your son will pee on you when changing him. Even if you put the rag on first, he will somehow shift or squirm when you are least expecting it and you will be showered.
7. Little boys can pee a long way away!
8. Keep your mouth closed when changing your son.
9. Start getting ready to go out at least an hour before you need to leave. This allows for two diaper changes, a feeding and at least one outfit change for you and the baby---don't ask!
10. Don't listen to everyone's advice, especially people that have never taken care of babies.
11. And the most important thing----Laugh and Enjoy it! You will be pooped on, peed on, spit up on, thrown up on and you will smell kinda funky sometimes, but nothing is better than having this little miracle look up at you and smile (especially when you know the smile isn't just because they have gas) and grab on to your finger and trust you completely.

Movie Theater Rage (MTR)

Ok....I admit it...I have MTR (movie theatre rage). Step one complete...11 more to go. I get angry when I go to the movie theatre...why do you ask? Because I'm not one of those people who can really tell others exactly how I feel because I start to worry about their feelings...stupid isn't it. I always get in front of the group of talkers, the texters, the seat kickers, the sloppy make-out couple, the farters, the chew-popcorn-with-your-mouth-open people, the people who think they are part of the movie, the gaspers, the screamer and the little kids that think it's okay to grab the back of your chair constantly thus leaving a little bald spot on the back of your head from ripping your hair out! It never fails....I sit there and start getting angry...Brit tells me to calm down and that it will be ok............I leave the movie feeling cheated.
To help with my therapy here are the things I would like to say:
Shut up!
If you kick my chair one more time, the next time you come here you will have to sit in the handicap chairs!
They can't hear you, nor do they want your advice. They are going to go upstairs....why? Because they don't know the killer is up there like we do. Also because that is what they are supposed to do. It's in the script! It would be a boring movie if they didn't go up there and get whacked.
Why yes! I did pay $8 for a ticket and $20 for a small popcorn and mini drink so I could hear what you wanted to say! Your boyfriend looked at another girl? I'm so sorry! He probably did because he finds you annoying because you talk during movies!
Special affects are not always supposed to be realistic...it's called fiction! Save your "whatever", "get real" and "that couldn't really happen". We all know Keanu Reeves can't fight that many Mr. Smiths even if there could be that many of the same person, we also know he can't fly. (This goes out to the charming girl sitting behind me during Kung Fu Hustle!)
If we want a movie recap, we will look it up on the internet or rent the movie when it comes out. We are watching the same movie, so you don't have to repeat what just happened...no matter how funny the line is!
I could go on and on, but I think this has really helped. Now I don't have to spend as much time in therapy!
Love to you all....and if you sit behind me at the movie theatre....well I probably won't say anything, but I'll think mean thoughts if you do any of the above mentioned!