8 Things . . .

I was tagged by Tammy at Up Hill at 40 for this all 8s post. Tammy is such an inspiration . . . she's getting ready to do her THIRD triathlon!! You go girl!

8 Things I am Looking Forward To:
1. Summer
2. Drinking Margaritas/Lemontinis, etc. on a patio somewhere
3. Laying on a beach chaise while reading a really good book
4. Going to next year's Jazz Fest in New Orleans
5. Selling our house and moving into a new, bigger house
6. Going to my daughter's softball games
7. Family vacation (somewhere . . . anywhere)
8. Getting a mani/pedi

8 Things I Did Yesterday:
1. Went to my stepson's soccer game
2. Moved furniture
3. Laundry
4. Cooked dinner
5. Watched some TV
6. Grocery shopping
7. Worked on this list!!
8. Cried

8 Things I Wish I Could Do:
1. Exercise regularly and enjoy it
2. Go on a romantic trip with hubby and not worry about the cost of it
3. Live further South . . . Charleston, SC would work
4. Lasik surgery
5. Quit having to work
6. Not be such a picky eater
7. Be able to be more in the moment and enjoy it, instead of thinking of everything I need to be doing.
8. Sing

8 Shows I Watch:
1. 24
2. Real Housewives of OC/NY/NJ
3. American Idol
4. Survivor
5. Desparate Housewives
6. Any show on Food Network or HGTV
7. Entertainment Tonight
8. Dancing with the Stars

8 Blogger Friend's I Tag to Have a Little Fun Doing All Things 8:
1. DiehardDallasfan
2. Mommy's on Vacation
3. Brittany
4. Carolina Girl
5. A Little Bit Delirious
6. Southern Savvy
7. Jillian
8. Confessions of a Semi-Slacker Mom

Sad

I can't believe we are going through this again. On February 23, my 14 year old husky, Kiki, passed away. About 3 weeks after that, we became foster parents to a redbone coonhound that we named Harley and planned to adopt. We had to put Harley down today. He was suffering from severe kidney failure and there was nothing that could be done. Both the shelter and the vet told us that Harley was lucky to have us in his final days instead of being stuck in a shelter. I am thankful that we were able to spoil him and let him be King of the house, but this happening and so soon after Kiki's death is just so painful. It just sucks.

You Gotta Be Kidding Me

One of the hardest jobs I've ever had is being a stepmom. At times I feel like I have to straddle a thin line . . . not step on dad or the other mom's toes, not become the evil stepmom, etc. Anyway, I went to Noah's soccer game this past Saturday. I drove separately from hubby because he had some errands to run afterwards and I needed to get home and start laundry. When I got to the field, I'm scanning the crowd to see where Noah's mom is sitting because I don't want her to feel uncomfortable with me being there so I was going to keep a distance. I know this is her turf, I get it. My daughter has had a stepmom before and I know what it feels like being the mom and dealing with a stepmom. Noah's mom has never had an interest in meeting me, creating a relationship with me, nothing. When hubby and I first got married, he tried to set up a meeting so we could meet, but she wasn't interested. She doesn't really care to know the stepmom to her child. I don't get it, but she and I are so completely different when it comes to parenting. I've met her once and that was at Noah's preschool graduation. So I scan the crowd and I don't see her. I'm thinking, well, maybe she had something to do and dropped Noah off. I find a spot and sit in my chair, wave to hubby who is a coach and is manning the goal, and settle in to watch the game. The kids finish warming up and the coach tells them to go take their soccer balls to their moms. Well, Noah starts coming my way and I thought oh, how cute, he's bringing the ball to me. WRONG!! I'm sitting RIGHT.NEXT.TO.HIS.MOM!!!!!!! I didn't even recognize her!! I thought oh crap. I thought ok, I can do one of three things - (1) discreetly get up and move, (2) do nothing but then at the end of the game when you are talking to Noah they are going to realize you've been sitting there the entire time, or (3) re-introduce yourself. I chose no. 3. I got up, re-introduced myself, and became best buds with her mom (Noah's grandmother). The grandmother and I chatted it up the entire game. Hubby said later he was wondering what on earth we were talking and laughing about the whole game!! Noah's grandmother said she's the evil grandmother and I said that's okay, I'm sure I'm the evil stepmother. I'm so glad that I chose to handle it the way that I did. I really don't want Noah to ever feel uncomfortable when we are all together, and whether his mom realizes that or not, there are going to be times that we are all together.

It's like the night before Christmas . . .

6 days
518,400 seconds
8640 minutes
144 hours

until I am in Mobile, Alabama hanging out with my best buds Cindy, Christal and Donna. I.CANNOT.WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stationary Giveaway!

Hurry over to Monogrammed Teacher to enter her fabulous giveaway! She has teamed up with Doodle Bugs Paper for a giveaway of fab stationary!

Devil Dog

Dog + Chicken juice/grease = Devil Dog.

I baked a chicken for yesterday's dinner. Roasting pan and cookie sheet were in the sink, soaking. At 12:30 this morning, I am waken by a crash (Hubby slept through it). I run downstairs to find our dog Harley licking the kitchen floor where the roasting pan and cookie sheet now lay. What the $%^&???? Yep, somehow he had flipped the pans to the floor and was having a party for one licking chicken juice/grease off my white kitchen floor. Nice. So at 12:30 this morning I am mopping the kitchen floor. Did I tell you hubby slept through the entire thing?? Double nice.

Happy Easter!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Easter, spent with family and friends. The Easter bunny was good to the kids, but I am such a slacker Mom - I took no pictures!! I don't know what I was thinking?!!!

Aggravated & Annoyed

Any suggestions on how to nicely tell hubby that when I take days off from work, trying to spend time with daughter, to please not call me 3 to 4 times during the day because you are bored at work and want to know what we are doing now. It is soooo aggravating!! Especially if I am up in the attic switching out my summer/winter clothes! Arrrgghh!!

I feel better now. Thank you.

Spring Break

It's Spring Break in our household. Daughter has been chillin' all week, sleeping in until 9am, getting dressed around 3pm . . .ahh, the life of a tween. I'm off today and tomorrow and we're going to have some mommy/daughter time. Today is lunch at the Silver Diner and shopping at the mall - what more can a Mom ask for?!!

Date Night

I'm so excited! I have a date tonight . . . . with Jack Bauer!!

I just may need a cigarette afterwards (and I don't smoke). Woo Hoo!

(And my husband is completely aware of my crush and knows to leave me alone while my show is on!!)

Check her out!

Be sure and enter this great giveaway - Lauren Nicole is giving away a fabulous necklace and a Lilly jewelry roll - love her stuff!

Blog Swap Jackpot!

I had so much fun with my first swap! I participated in Confessions of a Semi-Slacker Mom's Spring Swap and was paired with Life and Love in the South. I received my Spring swap package yesterday and I hit the jackpot!!! I had to shoo the daughter and husband away so that I could take pictures and before their greedy little hands got all into it.
Everything packaged so cute!


The goodies . . . I was lovin' those Sweettart jelly beans alittle too much last night.

Thank you Pam for everything - I love it all!!

Girlfriends

Last night I was reading the new Shape magazine and it had an article asking readers what was the best advice you’re received from your mother. I showed my daughter the page and asked her what was the best advice I’d given her so far. I sat there, fingers crossed, thinking, God I really hope she remembers some of the stuff I’ve told her along the way . . . you just never know though! After a couple seconds of thinking, she answers that being good to your friends because they are the ones that will be with you to the end was the best advice I’d given her. I wanted to shout hallelujah!! I have tried to teach her that no matter what you go through, your girlfriends will be there for you. I know from experience . . . we all know from experience. Your girlfriends are there during the good times and bad times, the marriages, the divorces, the birth of a new baby, helping you move into a new home, etc. I am still the best of friends with my girlfriends from college and that was a LONG time ago!! I have to stay friends with them, they have too much dirt on me :-) Then later last night I settled in to watch the Real Housewives of New York City. I usually love watching this show, but last night I really started thinking these women are just plain ole’ mean and they are suppose to be each other’s friends?? I’m sorry but with friends like that who needs enemies!! I started feeling uncomfortable watching it and the confrontations that have become the show. I just can’t imagine asking someone to meet me at a restaurant and then bitching them out or being at a party and telling a “friend” she’s rude. Good grief!!

Thank God for all my girlfriends!