You Capture - Baby Sitting Makes Me Feel Good

Last weekend, I babysat for a girlfriend and got to spend the day with her two children. They are adorable and fun. Her daughter had me wrapped around her finger because at 2 years old, she was very funny and very smart. She reminded me of Goddess when she was 2. So full of information and loved to talk. My favorite part was when she allowed me to lie down with her and actually took a nap. It was my first time watching her and I was unsure if she would actually sleep. It made me feel good that she was comfortable enough to fall asleep.

Anddd...she loved taking pictures....what's not to love about that?

Scunci's Bendini's Are Changing Our Lives - Review

Goddess and I love wearing our hair down but for school, I try to put her hair into ponytails or make her wear head bands. Goddess doesn't wear head bands the normal way. She wears them right at her hairline like an accessory rather than a way to hold back her hair. Also, her hair is very straight and ponytails never last. Enter Bendini's.

These things stay in and are so easy to use. I have had long hair my whole life but have never been really good about styling or making it look pretty with clips which means I also don't know how to do Goddess' hair.

But with the Scunci Bendini's you simply insert them and flip the decorative part pack. Easy and more importantly, they hold. If a clip can hold my hair back, it can hold anything. Plus, they are really beautiful. Goddess and I want two of each on the market.

T Shirt Printing.Net For Your Custom Printed Hoodies, T-Shirts and More

This month I was offered the opportunity to check out a screen printing company called TShirtPrinting.Net to check out a sample of a graphic t-shirt.

What is great about custom shirts is that you pick the style and color of your shirt, then you add your custom logo, graphic or message to the item, making it 100% yours.

This Is What I Can Tell You:
The shirts are high quality
The graphics are colorful and stay on!
The turn around was super quick. I got the t-shirt in 2 days of requesting it.

Tuesday Takes

Headed to the school today for a Storytelling program. Parents were invited and I am so glad I got to go. The story teller was awesome. She had the kids rivited. Have camera, will travel, so of course snapped some photos for myself and the school. Goddess knows the photographer so, where was she looking? Right at me!

Dialogues With Goddess 3-28-11

This morning as we were driving to school Goddess asked,
"What would happen to us, if something happen to you and Daddy?"

I told her not to worry and that nothing was going to happen to us but if something did,
"your aunt will take care of you."

She said, "I would want you to be there."

"I know, I always wanted my mommy there when I was little too."

"It's sad that your mommy isn't here. You should look in her mirror (now mine) and look for her. Maybe she will be there,"

*insert me freaking out*

"Ahhh, maybe, why have you ever seen anyone in the mirror?"

"No, but since it was her mirror maybe if you told her you want to see her, maybe she will come!"

Well, now, this is not the conversations I want to have with my daughter. You know, any that include me not being there for my kids, but now, the paranormal stuff...this is just too freaky.

Seeing something in a mirror is one of my fears. It is not something I have ever talked about but she totally freaked me out today! I know she is innocent and just almost 6 year old talking but, I was totally freaked out with goose bumps and all.

Handsome's Victory Dance

As parents, it doesn't take much for us to be proud. Sometimes it is the simplest things but when our kids just do something extraordinary pride swells and we are overcome with love for the people they are becoming.

Handsome has come a long way. He is still a little shy, doesn't always know how to make appropriate conversation or how to stay focused on what he is being told but the obstacles he has overcome are often unnoticed by others. But not me, I see everything he does. Hear everything he says and feel everything he feels. There are times my heart aches for the things I see him experience but he is never affected by them. Thankfully his comprehension on a lot of things slips right by, protecting him from meanness or ignorance and I am so thankful.

Friday, I saw him standing in the middle of a circle of boys, his eyes were closed and his fingers were in his mouth. He was swaying and smiling but it was a timid, nervous, uncomfortable smile. He was way outside his comfort zone and I felt it but he really wanted to play. They were playing Zombie Tag whatever that is and he knew the game which I found out when I asked him later. He WAS outside his comfort zone but he really wanted to play with them. I love how brave he was. No one else saw the discomfort but I did and I know what it was for him to stand in the middle of them, vulnerable, with closed eyes. But he did it and had a great time. The sight of him standing there was only about 3 seconds but it is embedded in my mind. I know that he is fine. I know that he was playing. I know that he overcame an obstacle (eyes closed in the middle of a room of people) yet, that little frightened face scorches my soul. It will be there forever.

My fear for him is real. I worry about him in the big, bad world and hope that time, and maturation strengthens him but I worry!

But....the victory dance of his goal last weekend is also in my head! Handsome is a very good soccer player and ended a wash out by the 1st place team but getting a goal for his team. I didn't have my camera, (can you even imagine?) but my girlfriend Sandra (babybindle) did, and got this awesome shot right after he scored!

He is totally doing a dig and often celebrates too much. He has about 8 goals under his belt this season and I couldn't be prouder.

Things Heard From Goddess Today!

"I have butt hands want to smell!?" Ahhh no, thanks honey.
"Yes, you do! You know you do!"

Watching her dad play DS.
"Come on Dad, follow your dreams."

After he lost a game.
'You have to live with it."

Over the past month, after every sentence: "I didn't see that coming."

Over the past year, prior to every logical question: "Let me guess...." i.e. sees her dad getting his work boots on, "let me guess, you are going to work?" or I am standing at the sink and turn on the water and grab the sponge, "let me guess, you are going to wash some dishes" Grr...makes us crazy.

Over the past year after she asks a question: "I know that!" Grr...

But, then there is this face:

How could we stay mad at that?

By the way...bowling with a bunch of boys at a birthday party today! Using the "heavy" ball according to all the boys when she picked it up, got the only Strike of the game!  Woot! Woot! That's my girl! Came in second overall too.

Bausch & Lomb Bio true Vlog

Just got back from the eye doctor extraordinaire and after a lenghtly discussion on life (I am a 9 year patient), kids, husband, business, and eyes he tells me that my eyes are doing great!

As someone who has had her share of eye problems, infections, and more this is very good news.

Nope, you are not looking at a planet, that is the inside of my eye. Check  it out my eye. So cool...he has a camera that he puts up to your eye so he can see the inside on a computer screen.  The bright part is my retina and the dark thing next to it is a nevus that I have to have looked at every year. All looks good!

Thankfully when I got home, I had a box waiting for me containing Bio true a new product from Bausch & Lomb.

Check out my video blog where I mention a million times that Bio true is inspired by the biology of your eye. Sorry about that B & L. Still not used to being on camera after a year! Need to do it more often.

What I Can Tell You:
The most important aspect for me on this solution is that, I didn't have to add drops to the lens before I inserted it into my eye. Dry contacts against my eye make me crazy. There is enough lubrication in the solution for me to take it right out of the case and put it into my eye. That says a lot!

Texas Blue by Jodi Thomas Book Review

 

What I Can Tell You:
Over the past year I have become a huge Jodi Thomas fan and friend. What I think makes my book reviews interesting is that I am not a huge fan of romance novels. They all seem very much the same after a while. Girl needs saving from herself, someone else, or from the eventual hero, they fall in love under distress and live happily ever after. Stale, old, boring.

I don't get that with Jodi's books. Lewt is our hero this time and while the synopsis is very good, that doesn't really describe the story for me. Yes, Lewt is looking to get into a respectable family and will do what he needs to in order to accomplish this, even stealing a ticket and worming his way onto the trip but he doesn't come off as a complete clod!

My favorite character by far was Emily or Em as she goes by. She doesn't want to be married off and has no interest in entertaining a bunch of strangers. She devises a plan to go undermine her cousin Duncan and sit this horse and pony show out. She isn't looking for a husband.

Jodi creates easy tension by creating an innocent friendship between the main characters that sweetly blossoms in a very realistic way.

Once again, Jodi had me reading romance without feeling like a complete fool, my favorite scenes were the sweet moments on the porch swing between Em and Lewt!

52 Weeks of Happiness - Week 3 - The Photoshoot

During another photo shoot for Zbowz (coming soon), Goddess was in rare form, even putting on her heels and strutting in the sunshine.

I had no idea she had this leg talent! What's your talent?

Tuesday Takes -

Goddess was student of the month! Hooray Goddess! My boo-boo was so proud. Hopefully Handsome's day comes soon. He was a tad bit jealous of the award and the pencil they are awarded.

Murder Takes The Cake by Gayle Trent Hits Shelves March 29th

What I can Tell You:
Honestly, I am so not the mystery murder type chick but the last two mystery murder books I have read have been awesome. I think it is because they are chick lit which means for me, no courtroom dialogue that is way above my head and wordy. You guys know that is why I call myself the Amateur Book Reviewer. Reading heavy dialogue just kills me. What I loved about this is that Gayle takes us on a journey with characters that I can relate to. Daphne is just dropping off a cake when she finds herself in the midst of a murder and a potential victim herself.

Although Yodel is literally dead when we first meet her in the book, I loved her! She would have been a wonderful character to get to know. She was a spicy chick.  Reading her diary entries cracked me up.

Daphne is likeable and strong and the story light and bright considering the theme.
 
Murder mystery and cake decorating tips all rolled up into one, how can you go wrong?

Blue Monday - Child Labor

Not only was Goddess modeling a skirt for a review from ZBowz (coming up soon) but she was sweeping the deck as we get ready for Spring. Hey, she has to do something to earn her keep.