I'm so dumb pt.2

I had a pretty good day yesterday. I took kids to preschool and I got them there on time. I remembered to get our car inspected and licensed and it wasn't even the last day of the month. Amazing. Most years you will find me doing that on the very last day of the month and at the very last hour of the day. It felt awesome to be doing it on the second to last day. Unfortunately, it didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would and so I had a lot of time to kill before I needed to pick up kids from preschool. I drove around a bit trying to think of anything I might need from the grocery store. After mentally ticking off the items in my cupboard and fridge, I realized I didn't "need" anything. Wow! I was quite pleased with myself for being so on top of things. So, I decided to go to Costco just to kill some time. I wandered around for an hour and bought a few things to put me even farther ahead on the shopping list. Hooray. I was finally forced to leave when Peyton started to get bored. Too bad. I still had around 50 minutes left before I needed to pick up the kids. What to do? What to do? It was then that I remembered I had a check in my purse that could be deposited and that there was a branch of my bank right across the street. I knew then that I was truly awesome and that this day was probably going to be one of the best days of my life. I actually remembered something again. That check had only come in the mail on Saturday. Normally, I would have carried it around in my purse for about a month before remembering to deposit it. Yes, I was totally awesome for first even remembering to put it into my purse for possible deposit and second, actually remembering that it was there. I drove to the bank and went to the drive thru. I signed the check, pulled out my id's and sent it all off in the tube. The teller's face then popped up on the screen to tell me hello. She was kind of giggling to herself and giving me a funny look. She wanted to know (stifled giggle) what I wanted to do with the check. Oh, I had forgotten to fill out one of the forms. I decided that was OK because just getting the check there was an amazing feat and I wasn't going to let that ruin my moment of glory. I told her to put it in checking. She said OK and sort of giggled again, which I found very odd. A few seconds passed and she popped back up and asked if there was anything else she could do for me (all while continuing to give me a funny look). I politely told her no and thank you and again puzzled over what was so funny. She sent my tube back out to me. I emptied the contents of it and then realized the big joke. I had sent her my debit card and my Costco card as my two forms of id. I'm so dumb. Thanks a lot for not telling me teller and for laughing at me instead. Oh well.

Pregnant pictures

This is my sister in law, Emily, who was kind enough to let me take some pictures of her pregnant self. These are straight from my camera. I've been fiddling with Photoshop, but I'm not totally happy with any of the editing/effects I've done just yet. Ryan bought a book about it for me. I've read a combined total of 10 pages out of it. It's 773 pages total. So, I have a little ways to go before I'm done. I'm not very good with reading and learning. I'm better with hands on demonstrations. Like, I need someone standing right next to me while holding my hand and telling me I can do it. Oh well. I'm satisfied enough with these for now.

Facebook?

I'm finally trying it. I say finally because I opened my account there around 6 months ago. I opened it and then I never did a thing with it. I can't explain why. I just didn't. I did feel guilty that I wasn't. Guilty because I have a brother who lives with his family in Tennessee and it's how he keeps in touch with everyone in the family. Everyone but me. I was tired of looking like a jerk. And I was tired of being left out.

I'm still not sure if I like it. I think I've been doing it for about a week. I've tried a few of the things, but all of the back and forth things and the plants and what not confuse me. I don't know if I've been playing right. I don't know why, but the whole thing kind of freaks me out. I hope I get over my weird anxiety.

I want candy

In conjunction with giving up Dr. Pepper, I am trying to give up candy/sweets/junk food. Well, not give up entirely. Just eat it less. (I've been really good about it too. I haven't had anything since the day I quit DP.) I don't eat things like that everyday, but I would say that I do at least two or three times a week. I've given it before, I know I can do it again. I'm just having a really hard time wanting to do it this time around. Especially without my sweet, precious Dr. Pepper to fall back on.

I usually keep some sweet staples around the house, but since swearing off, I haven't been buying my usual stuff. Yesterday, I was craving something sweet really badly. I had and ah ha moment and decided to make some chocolate chip cookies. I always have chocolate chips around and I convinced my sugar deprived brain that there was a long lost bag of them at the back of the cupboard. I must have rooted around in there for about 15 minutes and I never found that mystery bag of chips. I started to feel really desperate. I didn't know what I was going to do. I kind of gave up and began wandering the house to try and take my mind off it when I came upon the most glorious site I have ever seen. It was a forgotten Valentine's Day treat bag of one of my kids. It was like a light from heaven was shining down upon it. I immediately grabbed it and started digging around. At the very bottom of the bag I found one fun size Snickers and one fun size Twix. I ripped them open and shoved them into my mouth. They were the most glorious things I have ever tasted in my whole entire life. I heard the Hallelujah Chorus as I was eating them. A total meltdown was avoided and all was good and right in my world at that moment.

I don't know what I'll do if this happens again. What I ate were the only good things left in the bag. I shudder to think about it.

You just keep me hanging on

Take a good look at me in this picture and tell me if you see anything. I know, I know, I look good. There's no need to state the obvious, but thank you for thinking so. Please don't be intimidated and or distracted by my awesome fashion sense or incredible physique. I do always try to look my best and dress in clothes that will make me look my pudgiest. Perhaps, I can offer fashion and exercise tips in a different post.

I want you to look at that thing on my left cheek. That thing is probably the biggest and longest lasting monster zit I have ever had in my life. Ever. It's going on 4 weeks since that beautiful thing popped out. I can't get it to go away. I've tried ignoring it, but that's an impossible task for me. I've tried putting zit cream on it. All that has done is dry out the skin and make it peel off. I've tried popping it. No such luck with that either. All that happens when I do that is that it will get bigger and more purple, bleed and form an all new scab. Thereby, starting the whole process all over again. Nothing seems to work. I fully expect an alien to come out of my face once it's done incubating in there. There's just no other explanation as to why this thing has been hanging around for so long. I want it to go away. I feel like I've had a flashing neon arrow pointing at my face for all this time. Don't tell me you haven't noticed it.

Is it just me?

Google, blogger, or the Gods who control the Internet have not been very kind to me as of late. They've been randomly deciding when and where I may leave comments. It's driving me crazy. I will try multiple times. I will leave and come back and maybe come back again and then swear and leave again and try to come back, etc. Sometimes I am finally able, most times not. I try to remember to backtrack and leave comments on those I was unable to before, but my brain has a teeny tiny space reserved for short term memories. In other words, if it doesn't happen within a few hours, I forget to do it. I apologize. Is anyone else experiencing this problem, or is it just me? I wouldn't be surprised if it's just me.

I've added this to my list of favorite things

Many know that I can't stand lipstick. It makes me feel like my lips are suffocating and causes a panic attack when I wear it. That doesn't mean that I don't like a little color on my lips. My pale face can sometimes use a little lift. I've tried everything under the sun. My make-up bags and purses are filled with glosses galore. I've found some glosses that I enjoy tremendously, but none ever had the right amount of color, coverage lightness and moisturizing to be absolutely and totally satisfying. I was beginning to despair that I would never find something with the right combination of my requirements. I'm despairing no more. I've finally found the answer to years of prayer. I truly feel blessed. I love it. In fact, I love it so much, I think I'm going to go put some on right now.

Want

Want. Dr. Pepper.

All water and no Dr. Pepper makes Christa go crazy.

I said there would be more of these

I'm still having fun with my camera. I think I took over 400 pictures yesterday. I've been experimenting with motion shots. Like having my kids jump up and down, run, or ride their bikes past me. I'm also taking a lot of close-ups. I'm still not very good, but I am slowing becoming more familiar with my camera. I'm still in the trial and error phase. I just might get good at this. Eventually.

I'm so dumb

About a month ago I bought some foundation. My usual kind. Nothing special, nothing different. Every day since, when I've put it on, I've been really annoyed that I haven't been able to blend in well. I kept seeing a line and would almost rub my skin off trying to get rid of it. I've never had this problem with it before. Finally, today I was smart enough to look at the bottle. Something caught my eye. It said: Classic Beige. My usual color of foundation is Ghost White, Extremely Pale, Hardly Any Color, in other words: Light Ivory. Well DUH! I'm so dumb. I'll be sure to double check the next time I buy some to make sure I'm really buying what I think I'm buying.

I will never let go

Today is the 4th day, and counting, since I've had some of this brown and bubbly deliciousness. That's right. I'm off the stuff. It was time. I had my farewell one on Monday afternoon. Giving it up, just may be the death of me. It has been so hard. Just yesterday I saw it on sale for $3.24 for a 12 pack. ONLY $3.24 FOR A 12 PACK! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? I almost picked some up. You know, just out of habit, not because I was already ready to throw in the towel. How I passed it up, I will never know because normally, that would be like Christmas, my birthday and Easter all rolled into one for me. I have had some Sprite. Just to have the feel of something fizzy in my mouth. Obviously, it didn't even come close, but I tried to pretend that it did. I will try my best to stay the course and keep strong. I will keep my beloved beverage safe in my heart and my heart will go on. (I hope.)

Maybe I was a little too harsh

I know that every generation has it's own styles and trends. Maybe I was a little too harsh on the Emo kids. Especially when these were some of my style/fashion icons when growing up.

What little girl didn't want to be as cool and colorful as Punky? No one. If they didn't they were stupid.

My high school years were highly influenced by the grunge movement. (I've just dated myself.) I rocked my Dr. Martens along with everyone else. I was pretty sure I was going to move to Seattle and date a musician after graduation.

I was going to wear this dress to my own prom, or least make my bridesmaids wear it when I got married.

So, maybe I shouldn't judge the Emo movement so harshly. It makes me sound like a fuddy duddy. To each his own.

Nah! Boys in tight girl pants that don't cover their butts are disgusting no matter how you slice it.

Things that must go

These are two trends that I wish would just DIE!

#1 Thing that must go: Shag haircuts on boys. Especially boys who don't know what it means to wash their hair. Grody. Tyler recently asked if I would let him grow his hair out like this. First, I nearly threw up and second, I had to restrain myself from smacking him for even thinking such a ridiculous thing. It made me feel like a failure as a mother. I know I've taught him better.



#2 Thing that must go: boys in tight girl pants. Enough said about that.

I have plenty of others, but these two will do for now.

Perhaps, a future career?

This morning, as I was doing Avery's hair, she said to me: "Mom, I spend a lot of time thinking about different hairstyles I can do with my hair." Do I have a future hair stylist on my hands? Maybe. What I most definitely have is a very girly girl.

You'll probably be seeing lots of posts like this

Since receiving my camera, I've taken a lot of pictures. I've mainly been doing it in a manual /point and shoot mode. Nothing fancy yet. I haven't figured out all of the bells and whistles. I'm still not sure if I know what aperture means. I'm just having some fun taking random pictures. These are all straight from the camera. No editing in Photoshop, which I don't know how to use yet either. Someday I'll learn how to use that too. I'll just keep experimenting and taking random pictures in the meantime.

Losing his mind

Cameron's been on kind of a destructive jag lately. First there was the television. Then, a few days ago, I noticed some scratches and gouges on the top of our new table. (I finally found one. I'll have to do a post about it another time. I was pretty surprised at where I found it.) I asked him what he did to scratch the table and why. He said he thought there was something stuck to it and tried to get it off. Now, the answer to the million dollar question: What did you use to get the "stuff" off? He took a pencil that didn't have any eraser in the top and used the metal to try and scrape off whatever he thought was on the table. Argh! It made perfect sense to him.

He got sent to bed early for trying to clean off the table. He had to wait for me for a few minutes to make up his bed before he could get into it. While waiting, he found a metal knitting needle from who knows where, and used it to poke a couple of holes in the top of a card table we keep in their room. I guess he needed a little entertainment. They use the table to build Lego's and draw and various other things. I happened to glance over at him just as he poked the needle in for the second time. I immediately screamed at him to stop. He jumped and tried to cover up the evidence. I was so fed up with things, I basically picked him up, threw him on his bed and stormed out of the room. I went back in later to discuss things with him. I, of course, asked him "Why?" again. Why did he feel like he had to/could ruin things? Didn't he realize that what he was doing was bad? Didn't he realize that what he was doing was going to be damaging? I was trying my hardest to be kind and understanding. Here was his reply: "Well, sometimes, when I start doing something, I start having a lot of fun and then when I'm having a lot of fun I kind of lose my mind and forget to stop doing things and then I end up wrecking something and how come when I'm having fun no one else is."

As if he weren't already skinny enough

Ryan started this exercise program 8 days ago. You've probably seen the infomercials. They're on all the time. All. The. Time. I've watched them and some of the different workout routines with him. They truly do look challenging and like they would produce results. I've thought about trying some of it myself. Thought about it. That's all. I don't think I would ever actually attempt to do any of it. I'm too scared to go all out with the program. Scared because I know I would be amazing at it and I don't want to intimidate Ryan with my super awesomeness. I want him to have lots of self-confidence. He doesn't need me emasculating him.

How to make an American quilt

Several months ago, I decided that I wanted to try my hand at making a quilt. Ryan was going to be doing quite a bit of traveling and I knew that I was going to have a lot of time on my hands. Having too much time on my hands with nothing to do is usually not a good combination for me. I needed an activity that could be spread out over several days and would take a long time to complete. Making a quilt seemed like a good choice.

I didn't want anything fancy. I also didn't want to have to follow a pattern. I didn't want a particular color scheme. I wanted something that looked homemade. Not made by a professional. (I'm pretty sure I succeeded at making it look like it was made by an amateur. ☺) To sum it up, I simply didn't want to have to make any choices. I hope that makes sense.

I wanted needed this to be an exercise in letting go. I tend to be a little bit of a control freak. I get worked up over silly, senseless details that in the end, don't amount to anything. I didn't care if this ended up looking chaotic, or ugly. I just wanted to make it and not worry about how I was going to make it.

I decided I wanted to use what I had on hand. In other words, scrap fabric. I didn't want to buy anything new to make the top. I knew that if I bought anything new, I would start worrying about things, I would come up with a color scheme or pattern and then I wouldn't end up with the crazy quilt I wanted. I had quite a bit of my own fabric, but I didn't have enough to make the size of quilt I needed. I had to get some scraps from my dad and my mother in law also. I'm glad I did. To me, it makes it feel like the quilt has more of a story. I only had to buy the batting for it and the fabric for the back. There's no rhyme or reason really as to why I chose the green flannel for the back. I simply did because it was the one that had the most on the bolt when I bought some. I thought about "quilting" the top and then I came to my senses. This thing is really big. Pretty much a king size. Quilting it would have taken forever. So, I decided to just tie it. I used yarn I had on hand and I really like the way it turned out.

Now, I don't make any claims of being a quilter. I've never done this before. I'm sure it shows. I would really hate for someone who knows what they are doing, to critique my work. I don't care if it's not done properly. I only care that it's done. I started something and I finished it. All the way to the end. I'm proud of myself.

Prayers needed

Yesterday, Avery, Peyton and I were out and about. Avery and I decided that we wanted desperately needed a Dr. Pepper. Yes, I let my 4 year old drink Dr. Pepper. So, I went to the drive-thru of Wendy's to get a couple. I ordered, there was a pause and then, "I'm so sorry, but we're out of Dr. Pepper." What?! NOOOOOOOOOOO! The world stopped and time stood still. Avery wept. Really, she did. I wanted to, but I kept my tears on the inside. I simply said, "Oh crud!" and drove away. I don't remember if I drove safely. My world was really thrown off balance.

This incident made me realize something. I've known it for years. We (really I) have a very serious problem. We're (really me) addicted to Dr. Pepper. I had such a scare, I'm almost sort of contemplating getting off the stuff. Almost. Also, I've actually started running again on a semi-regular basis and drinking Dr. Pepper is counter productive to what I'm trying to do. It's just that I love it so much. It's my idea of heaven. Pray for us. If we're really going to quit, we'll need all the help and support we can get to get this monster off our backs.

P.S. Just in case you're wondering, of course I drove straight to a gas station from Wendy's and bought both of us one there.

P.S.S. I also ran last night. It was only for about 21 minutes, but I did burn off around 120 calories. I then promptly came in the house and ate a Cadbury Creme Egg to cancel out any of the good effects the running may have had.

Interesting

Avery and Peyton were downstairs this morning watching Dora. Suddenly, I hear from Avery, "Mooooooommmmm, (you know, in that really long and drawn out way) Peyton turned off the tv." Me: "Oh, OK." Avery: "Yeah, but I can write with my feet." Huh!? Yeah, I don't know where that came from either.

An uplifting blog

Thank you Erin, this was just what I needed.

Karmic Retribution?

I think my socks are getting back at me for all of the whining and complaining I've been doing. They're slowly dropping off, one at a time. Now, I wouldn't care if this happened to some of my husband's 10,000 socks, but I don't want it to happen to mine. Everyday, I pull out a pair, only to find a huge hole in one or both heels. I've tried wearing them anyway, but the holes end up being too distracting and I have to take them off. Before anyone asks, yes I have considered darning them. I'm too lazy to do it. I have some socks that I've owned for about 13-15 years. (I get attached to very strange things.) They're what I've always called my "winter socks". They're heavy and thick and work just as well as slippers. It's always been a comfort to me knowing that they're in my drawer just waiting for me to take them out should the need arise. Lately, there has been a lot of need for them. This is the first winter in memory that I've actually been cold enough to want to wear socks. All the time. Plus, like I said, they're a comfort to me. All of my old tried and true things are what is keeping me calm. (I have no better way to explain it than that.) Now, they're not there for me. They're abandoning me. Are they punishing me for all the bad-mouthing I've been doing? I'm sorry socks. I promise I shall never speak ill of you again. I'll even get all of you folded. Well, maybe tomorrow.

A dream is a wish your heart makes

Remember how I said that an SLR was one of my wish list items? Well, my wish has come true and I wasn't even expecting it too. Ryan loves mystery and surprises.









One of these arrived yesterday. It was addressed to Ryan, so I didn't open it. I assumed it had something to do with his new exercise routine. (A post for a later time.) He opened it as soon as he got home from work. I gasped when I saw it. He did his usual act nonchalant and shrug it off routine. I cried like a baby for about 5 minutes and then I started taking pictures galore. I already love it. I just need to learn how to really use it now. Someone, please teach me. (Yes, that is a plea for help from those I know who know how to use these.) *Warning! Mushy time.* I have such an amazing husband. I really kind of love him. A lot. (I suppose that wasn't so mushy, but I do love my husband.)