Free!

I love getting a great bargain -- finding something for a great price is a great thrill and does wonders for the pocketbook. But FREE is even better. Check out what we obtained for E for FREE from our local rEcycle group:

I was excited to receive a free play kitchen for E, but when I saw the condition of this one, I was floored. It's like new and completely adorable...much better looking than my own kitchen, actually! :-)

Done, Mama, Done...

E was having a bit of a temper fit at dinner tonight and didn't want some of the food I was offering her -- namely green beans....something she usually loves!

I kept reminding her that instead of throwing them on the floor, she should tell me "Done, Mama" when she is finished with something. We have really been working to curb the food throwing. It hasn't gotten bad yet, and I don't want it too.

I turned to go to the fridge to get her some more milk, and I heard, as clear as a bell "Done, Mama, Done!" ... I turned around to see her holding out her green beans....she was trying to give them back to me.

Done, indeed!

More tears....

Tonight, E had another horrid meeting with the coffee table, resulting in a fat lip. Many hugs and some Motrin later, she was able to settle to sleep.

Being a little girl is rough!

Family history....

We just found out that the local Mississippi newspaper in hubby's grandparents' town wrote a little feature article about them last year....something fun to keep in the files for E.

Interested? You can read more here.

Tears...

Tonight, my baby girl E cried so hard, that it made me cry....hard.

She has been really doing great with walking and was cruising around the living room....she tripped on something and went headfirst/facefirst into our coffee table and went nuts, of course. Hubby couldn't tell who was crying harder, E or me. Especially, since we saw it happen, but couldn't do anything to stop it. E is fine now - with a few bruises to show off - but it was one of those parenting moments that just rips your heart out. It wasn't the first, and I'm sure it won't be the last....

Very cool lunch ideas for kids....

Check out these blogs:

bentolunch.blogspot.com

veganlunchbox.blogspot.com

These moms are making cool packable lunches that look like this:

I wouldn't mind having a lunch like that, myself! Looks like a lot of work, but healthy too!

Related Dallas Morning News article:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/fea/taste/shopping/stories/DN-nf_bento_0815liv.State.Edition1.b1d12c.html

You know you're having a better day when...

...Your daughter sleeps 13 hours straight overnight....

...You get to go to bed at 8:30 p.m. (after a bubble bath and glass of wine) while dear hubby cleans up the spilled vinegar and glass in the garage...

...Your daughter wakes up cheerful, not whiny....and proceeds to melt your heart by walking about six steps at a time (lunging between pieces of furniture) and then hugging you and patting your back to tell you she loves you....

...ahhhhh, much better! :-)

You know you're having a bad day when...

...you were up for four hours overnight with your daughter - who kept crying inconsolably every 20 minutes or so (turns out she was hungry!)...

...you are so tired from aforementioned night waking with daughter that your morning coffee doesn't even taste good...

...you brave the grocery store in your tired condition, with your tired daughter, only to drop a huge, glass bottle of balsamic vinegar on the concrete garage floor upon your return home...

...garage now smells funky, as it's 120 degrees in there, due to the heat outside....

Blah!

Summer vacation...

This past weekend, we had the opportunity to

"get away from it all" on a road trip to San Antonio and San Marcos...

It was a great four days of family, friends, fun and many "firsts" for E.

...First outlet mall shopping experience with Aunt Lucy...

...First try at climbing stairs with Popi...

...First trip to El Mirasol for margaritas (for the adults!) with Grandmome...

...First wedding to attend -- my best friend Jennifer's brother got married in San Marcos...

E did great on the trip - we had such fun - but we are very glad to be home, too!

Java Jolt...

Yes, E really is checking out a bag of Starbucks coffee in this photo. Coffee is a staple item in our house, and I've been drinking too much of it lately, trying to keep up with an active baby, stay on top of several exciting (but exhausting!) freelance projects and prepare for an out of town trip.

I am thankful for...

...timers on coffee makers
...a husband who 'puts the coffee together' at night so it starts brewing before 7 a.m.
...my favorite coffee mugs
...that addictive "hit" you get from your first few hot sips of coffee in the a.m. -- bliss!

Get a free coffee sample....

Click here ....

Boys, boys, boys....

You already know that E loves to spend time with Ethan... Today she had the opportunity to see Caleb, the grandson of a dear family friend named Vicki. Caleb wasn't so sure what to think of E -- although he loved playing with E's toys! So fun to get the little ones together for some playtime.

Free goodies....

Want to know how I got all of the below items for FREE?

Actually, I received almost $600 in free jewelry...getting all kinds of goodies for myself AND Christmas shopping for every almost female on my Christmas list....I picked out some beautiful things for the beautiful women in my life! If you want to know more....send me an email. (I'm not allowed to promote this business by name on my blog....but a dear friend is selling beautiful jewelry like the items you see below. Interested in having a home party to check it out? Let me know! I'll connect you with my sweet friend!)

Workin', workin'....

As my best friend's little girl used to say....I'm workin', workin'!

Have been deficient on blog posting because the freelance business is hopping at the moment.

Hopefully, things will be back to "normal" soon! :-)