My Dear Daughter Is Going To Be The Death Of Me

I love my Goddess and any friend or reader of mine knows this is no lie. I spend way more time with her than any other person on the planet. She is my baby girl and will be forever. I absolutely love being with her, find her to be one of the funniest people I know and feel sad when she is not around. She is the reason I know there is a God and would do anything for her. However with all that said, she makes me angrier than any other person I know.

Let me explain....mornings are not a friend to this girl. She becomes a completely different person when she is woken up. She is angry, mean, and at times tries to hit me.

Every morning the process takes at least 20 minutes with me starting with "Good morning beautiful. Come on honey, time to wake up and usually ends with me yelling and angry. It is not the 20 minutes that make me crazy is it her thinking that at 10 it is OK to yell, scream or what hit at me?! She must have lost her ever loving mind.

It is never OK to hit your parents. Especially when they would die for you.  The rest of the day this chick is chill. My little buddy. Someone I look forward to being around but the mornings.....

UGH...we had a long talk in the car after handsome went into school, (he loves running in the moment we get there and she loves waiting until the last possible moment), but I doubt there will be a change. It's not like we haven't had these talks a million times before.

Her teenage years are going to kill me but until then...our morning car time selfies.

 

Daybook - Feb 2, 2016

The Simple Woman's Daybook is back at it's original home, The Simple Woman's blog.

I am thinking... About my kids and how happy I am to be working in their school today. We leave together which makes working so much easier today.

I am thankful... That I was called into work the past 6 work days with only one day off. Being a substitute means you never know which school you are working at or when but I am so thankful when I do get to work

I am wearing...Always dressed for work just in case I get called. Today a pair of black pants with a white waistband, grey short with salmon triangles and black knee high boots

I am creating... a blog post about my son and how much I love him.

 I am going... to leave for work in a bit. Excited to work with this class again

I am reading... V.C. Andrews My Sweet Audrina

I am praying for... strength and wisdom

Pondering these words...

I am hearing... songs from Grease Live.


On my TV..... I am watching Grease Live for the second time. It was awesome.

I am hoping... That I get another two days of work this week.

In my kitchen... DINNER
Monday ~
Tuesday ~ tuna and salad
Wednesday ~ salad and chicken
Thursday ~ scrambled eggs
Friday ~ pizza
Saturday ~ not sure yet
Sunday ~ steak and salad

 A peek into one of my days...

One of my favorite things... spending time with my daughter looking at all the amazing things on Etsy.

 A few plans for the rest of the week:
Monday ~
Tuesday ~ homework, yoga and strength training, dusting the living room, movie with the kids
Wednesday ~ work, yoga and strength training, dusting the bedrooms
Thursday ~ yoga and bike, cleaning the floors and vacuuming
Friday ~ yoga, and strength training, bathroom and kitchen cleaning
Saturday ~ grocery shopping, hanging out, movie night
Sunday ~ doing my best to avoid hearing or seeing the Superbowl

My Son Holds My Heart In His Hands

I don't know another kid who tries as hard as he does to fit into our world. He is completely unaware that he is any different from anyone else. He just knows he is always either in trouble or praised. I can only imagine how confusing his day to day can be sometimes. The world can be cruel to kids like my son. He thinks differently and that is not his fault. It is who he is and I wouldn't have him any other way. As a spectrum kid he is constantly under the microscope for everything sometimes too much in my opinion. I feel there are a ton of mainstream kids that could use the services he thankfully receives.

My son sees things very literally which means influencing, predictions, figures of speech and thinking outside the box are very hard for him.  He knows what he can see. He has come a long way since his early intervention days which makes me a huge supporter of Early Intervention especially if done right.

I started him a month away from his 3rd birthday. Knowing what I know now there are many things I would have changed especially certain therapists I would have had removed and switched. I can't go back but I know that starting his was the right thing to do.

My son is now 12 and one of the best people I know. He makes my heart sing. When he says something you know he feels and means it.  Even writing this I am tearing with the amount of love I have for this boy.

Currently he gets speech, occupational therapy and group and solo counseling for anger control. He is not an angry boy by nature but his inability to fully understand a situations frustrates him. However this kid knows how to calm himself down and when he does, especially if given the proper amount of time to do so he will come around, apologize with his whole heart and beg you to forgive him.

This is something I am constantly saying to my daughter who will never forgive him even though he should be asking for her forgiveness for the things she says and does to him. At 10 she doesn't understand no matter how many times I tell her that the world is hard enough on him and he deserves a break at home.  I must have explained to her that getting apologies from anyone is not something that occurs often and that when he says it, he truly means it.

Now if I can get the rest of the world to see how amazing this kid all will be well in my life.  My heart breaks for him. He wants friends and doesn't have any real ones. Thankfully he is a loving boy who knows his family loves him. He loves hugs and has no problem cheering for someone else. I can only pray that one the his peers see what an amazing friend he can be if they allow him in.

Handsome, if you ever read this...your mommy is so very proud of you and how you handle every situation in your life. You make me smile every day. I love you so much!

One Quick Stop In The Candy Shop

My favorite candy store makes me happy the moment I walk in. Thankfully it isn't close to me and I have to travel to it. Also, when I go, I am financially able to make rational decisions even though the little kid in me wants absolutely everything.  However, the one thing I cannot stop myself from doing is taking a hundred photos when there.

The set up makes me smile. It is so colorful. There is always something new and even the name makes me smile. Fizzy Lifting Drink. If it sounds familiar it should. You may remember it from Charlie and The Chocolate Factory.  The store totally reminds me of the movie and when I do visit, I stay no less than 30 minutes because there is so much to look at.

Check this place out.

 

This Candle Is Making Me Hungry

Who knew a candle could make me crave a candy I don't even like?

Sugar Creek Candles come in all kinds of scents and colors. Last week I received a purple one called Jelly Bean. It is a purple candle inside a thick glass container with a lid. Upon opening the lid you immediately smell the sweet aroma but it isn't a gross, overly fake, sweet smell. It is pleasant and enticing which probably has something to do with the wild cherry, ripe peach and tangy strawberry with a hints of cinnamon and cherry with undertones of vanilla and musk. It is the perfect combination.

Ever since my Handsome was a toddler I always buy soy candles because they produce no soot. I remember seeing Handsome after a party. There was a candle above the TV burning and when I finally picked him up to change him for the night I noticed black around his nose area. He had been very interested in the candle all night and stayed below the TV trying to see it. I was shocked. I didn't know candle burning released so much carbon. It was the last time I burned  candle that wasn't vegetable based. Soy also lasts way longer than paraffin candles.

Goddess tells me this is the best candle she has ever smelled and asked that when not burning we keep it in her room by her bed so she can smell it when she goes to sleep and wakes up.

I can't wait to try their other scents. We are definitely new fans.

There are so many scents to choose from. Check out Sugar Creek Candles the next time you are searching for candles.

Our World Is Pretty White

This is the only photo I got of the storm on Saturday.  A few years ago I would have taken about 20 photos of the snow and then another 100 of the kids playing in it. They were out in it but I didn't go. I now find it sad how my life has changed over the past 4 years. One life changing moment that didn't break me but definitely bent me has altered my everything and sometimes just doing the norm and not sobbing anymore takes all my energy.

Did you have snow where you are this past weekend? We ended up with about a foot and a half.

 

V.C. Andrews My Sweet Audrina

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The 411: 

I am midway done with My Sweet Audrina and it is everything a VC Andrews book should be. Audrina was written in the 80s by V.C. Andrews is was not a sage series as her other books but stands alone. Audrina lives in the shadow of a sister she doesn't know. The first and better Audrina according to Audrina. Her father makes her rock in her dead sister's rocking chair to hopefully get all the gifts the first Audrina possessed. It is a lot for a little girl with a bad memory to deal with especially when you don't know your real age, never celebrate birthdays, never attend school, have friends, live with a cousin who makes life more miserable and parents who argue and fight.  Audrina is never to go into the wood alas she meet with the mystery fate of her sister Audrina.

This is a great read. I read it many, many moons ago and I am so excited it was made into a Lifetime movie.

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Yes My Heart Is Blue But It Is Stunning

Reviewing products is what takes up most of my week. I have friends who love checking out my reviews and others who are dying to learn how to do this too. It is not something to go into lightly and it does take time to get products worth reviewing.

When you are a product reviewer there are many steps to getting the products and crossing them off your To Do List.

• There is a ton of emails to get through.
• Make sure the product came in.
• Break the box down and get it ready for recycling.
• Take photos of it before I open it.
• Use the product.
• Show my friends and ask them what they think about the product
• Take more photos or even do a video.
• Research the product
• Write about the product
• Post the product in numerous sites Amazon, Blog, Facebook, Twitter, and other places.
• Send the links over to the company that sent me the product and make sure they received they email.

Sometimes it is fast and other times a grueling task that seems to never end. I love when I can cross a product of my To Do List that is always being updated and hangs in front of my face.

This review is something that was far from grueling. It is gorgeous and I can't stop taking photos.

Isn't it stunning?!

I love wearing it and everyone who sees it loves it too!

To Order one for yourself, visit the link below. I know there is a red heart in the photo but this is for the blue heart. I promise. It is the link I used to order and if you check the description you will note the blue details.

No More Messy Microwave With Angry Mama In The House

The Kitchen Gizmo Angry Mama Microwave Cleaner is not only cute but gets the job done.
Remove the hair of this little mama and pour distilled white vinegar into the body up to the fill line (It's there. No guessing needed).

Pour water up to the fill line on the back of the head. (No guessing here either)
Replace her hair which has holes at the top for the steam generated by the water and vinegar to escape.

Place her in your microwave for 5-7 minutes. (We did 6)

After about 2 minutes, the water and vinegar heats up enough to generate steam. It is the steam that will loosen up all the microwave mess. No scrubbing or harsh chemicals.

It is definitely and adorable addition to my kitchen and she is so cute you can't NOT use her. I want her to stand in the microwave all the time with her cute mean face hoping she stops everyone from leaving spills.

The Pretty Cherry Pitter

The Kitchen Gizmo Cherry Pitter removes the cherry pit with one little push, saves the pits in the bottom of the pitter for easy disposal.

We love cherries in this house as does our guinea pig. Removing a cherry pit is a pain and having to bite around it means messy hands and juice down the face.

• Place cherries in the cherry basin (which you have to easily put onto the pitter when you first take it out of the box. You can drop about 10 cherries at a time into this basin.
• Automatically because of the slope design, a cherry will place itself on the pitter well with the cross shaped plunger overhead. It doesn't even matter what part of the cherry the plunger hits so you need to rotate the cherry.
• Hit the plunger with your hand until it is totally down and you will see the pit fall right into the pit well.
• Your cherry is ready for eating.

You can easily and quickly de-pit a bunch of cherries in a few seconds.

We use a small plate right next to the pitter to catch all the cherries that have been de-pitted.

When you are done, remove the black bottom and dump your pits.

Wish I had room to keep this on my counter because it not only works great but looks amazing.

My Life Organization Has Started for 2016 With A Single Hamper

This fold-able laundry hamper may spend very little time closed up as I always have laundry but I love the fact that it can completely close if I needed it to. It comes completely folded down and secured with a snap that allows the handles to be the closure.

Even though it is flexible and lightweight it is still very sturdy. My favorite feature is that the handles make carrying it down to the laundry room very easy.

The description says it holds three loads, I can tell you it holds 2 large loads however if you are doing towels and and a comforter, probably one.

The hardest part is getting my kids to stop playing with it.

Just Finished Between A Vamp And A Hard Place By Jessica Sims

The 411:

Well, this was a great way to end 2015 and start a new year. Vampire love never grows old in my eyes and there is no pun intended. I LOVE IT!

Lindsey and her partner/friend Gemma head over to Italy to hopefully grab some amazing antiques. Lindsey isn't sure this will be worth the trip, time or expense until she stumbles upon a secret room downstairs that is stocked full of amazing pieces that will undoubtedly make everything quite worth this trip including a coffin that contains a very very old vampire who wants to find out who staked him. Lindsey didn't plan on becoming a food source, traipsing all over Venice or falling for a vampire but since meeting Rand, her life will never be the same. 

I really really enjoyed the first part of the book with Gemma and Lindsey. I thoroughly enjoyed Rand trying to wrap his head around all the modern day things like showers, clean hair, door knobs and cell phones to name a few. My absolute favorite character is Gemma who thankfully was included in the traipsing thanks to text messaging. All in all a fun book I will be looking for more Jessica Sims books.

Coffee—The Gift That Keeps On Giving!

This holiday season I must have gone through 40 K-Cups and brewed about 18 pots of French Press Coffee!  Even if we aren't entertaining we go through a lot of coffee. I love bringing a thermos to work too so that I can save on all the trips to the convenient store along with my co-workers on our 4th cup during the 7 hour work day. Buying coffee out can be really expensive and I don't understand people who spend over $10 a day on coffee when out. That equates to $50 a week and $200 in a month. Save that over the year and you have a nice little vacation fund of $2,400.00. This is why I love making coffee at home BUT if I am going to make it at home I want the selection I would get if I were to purchase it outside the house.
 

The day before Christmas I received a large box of coffee and my new favorite cup to try out.  So far I can tell you I love the Marseilles best which is a medium dark with the Aztec Roast coming in a close second.  My husband loves the Aztec Roast best probably due to it's medium to full body flavors of dark cocoa, plum, and tobacco. The finish is sweet and toasty.

 

Oh yeah...and they don't only have coffee, they also have teas and creamers. So before you spend another cent at a convenience store. Visit Royal Cup and H.C. Valentine!