What I'm Loving

These are in no way in any order of importance, nor are they sponsored shout outs.  It's a simple Mama sharing time of what goes on in my head and what is making me smile (or cringe!) this week.

Sochi: More specifically, I'm loving the Twitter handle Sochi Problems! Growing up, I always dreamed of being an Olympic figure skater.  What girl didn't?  It wasn't a serious aspiration but a dream nonetheless.  The Olympics were beautiful and featured fame, talent, sparkly costumes and were something awe inspiring.  I have enjoyed the summer Olympic games in the past.  However, the Sochi games are making a mockery of a beloved event.  They had notice and they (should have) had oversight by the IOC.  I haven't decided if I will watch.  I'm a little disgusted, but I do love the Hunger Olympic Games!

ShopKick: I like an app that will pay me in Starbucks latte's to walk (somewhat) aimlessly around stores and pick up items.  Ok, it's a little more complicated than that but you get the gist.  1250 is a lot of points to get a $5 Starbucks card, but they add up fast and honestly, it's a free latte you pay for with your time.  I spend my lunch break at work once or twice each week scanning bar codes in Target, Walmart and other retailers for the elusive gift card reward.

Toddler Milestones: Jack told me, "wuv you, Mama" for the very first time last night.  He could have ripped my heart out right there.  We were having our quiet Mama/Jack time before bed-- he was in his crib and I was on the hardwood floor right next to him.  He likes to talk for about a half hour and given that we are apart all day and don't have an opportunity for one-on-one time, I'll take it.  He chats and sings or sometimes we just hold hands.  I savor these moments.

Enjoy your weekend, cyber space.  We are anticipating more snow (thank you, Mother Nature!) and Gabby will be away this weekend so we may take Jack on his first ever train ride to the Choo Choo restaurant.  Can you guess what he's loving lately?

Bitchslapped by Life

Today's Score:

Life - 3; Ellen - 0

Let me explain.  Today is Tuesday and I had to deliver both children safely to daycare.  Minor disagreeing aside, we made it out the door at 7:20a prompt and we arrived at daycare on time.  My commute to work then lasted 90 minutes.  I didn't make to work until 9a-- that's 40 minutes late!  Every road was blocked (presuming blowing snow).  I never got close enough to determine what the exact cause was.  Life 1; Ellen 0.

Upon arriving at work and apologizing to my supervisor for the other drivers, bad driving conditions, etc., I decided that I simply could not start my day without a glass of water.  I was damned determined not to let my rough commute ruin my day.  I was halfway to the cafeteria when I heard my supervisor stage whispering my name.  I turned around and she brought it to my attention that my black dress slacks had decided to tear, not once but twice right in the butt and what was I wearing underneath?  Not enough to cover what was showing.  Talk about embarrassed!  So, not 10 minutes in to being on the clock, I punched back out, ran to Target with my shirt pulled way down in the back to search for new pants.  $9 later I was presentable enough to return.  Life 2; Ellen 0.

As if the previous two hours hadn't been enough, Aunt Flo came to town.  While it's better than the alternative.  Seriously?  By 11a, I was seriously regretting not calling in sick.  Life 3; Ellen 0.

Dear Carmona family, don't mess with Mama tonight.

Dr. Scholl's For Her Cozy Cusions #RoseVoxBox

Fall is my favorite time of the year.  I love the color schemes (i.e. burgundy, brown, deep greens), the smells (pumpkin spice everything!), and the change in wardrobe.  When the leaves start changing, I pull out my boots and right now, my favorite pair is the Justin’s cowgirl boots Felipe bought for me for Christmas last year.  Not only do they go with everything, but they’re so comfy. 

Dr Scholl’s and Influenster apparently thought I wasn’t ready enough for Fall so they sent me Dr. Scholl’s® for Her Cozy Cushions.  I’m not a shoe insert wearer like my honey is but this pair is changing my tune.  I love them!  They provide added support, are easy to cut down to size with regular scissors, and a add cozy lining to my favorite pair of Fall shoes.  I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this and thought they would be far too hot.  But, I was pleasantly surprised!  My boots are square toed and the inserts are meant to be cut round.  We did cut them round on the pre-marked lines and to the size of my boots and they fit very comfortably.

I love them and think they’ll make for the perfect stocking stuffer for my family this Christmas. 

Disclaimer: I received this product complimentary from Influenster in exchange for my honest reviews.

Throwback Thursday - Halloween 2012

This is a weird Halloween at the Carmona household.  The children both have their respective costumes.  I made a big pot of chili just like my mom always did.  And yet, here I sit alone.  Felipe is gone to yoga class.  Gabby is with her mother trick-or-treating because apparently this is a holiday we should share.  And, little Jack is watching "Choo Choo" a.k.a. Thomas and Friends.  It's weird.  It's also raining, which sucks.  So, I'm a little glad that Gabby has someone else to take her trick-or-treating tonight because I'm not sure I want two soggy kids in the rain and a crabby daddy.  Call me crazy.

Instead, here's a throwback to last year's Halloween:

Wordless Wednesday

Review: The Last Bully

The Last Bully by Suzy Liebermann is yet another story about Hugo the Happy Starfish.  We received a copy to read on our Kindle which was an enjoyable medium for both of my children.  I love that this series uses gentle characters to educate children on how to use an attitude of respect when dealing with one another and with dealing with bullies.  In this brightly illustrated book, the cheerful characters gently teach children how to handle disrespect.  Hugo the Happy Starfish observes his friends being bullied.  He forms the Anti-Bulling Club (ABC) to help his friends feel supported in their struggles.  Their message is to stop bullying as there are always bigger fish in the ocean and they need to respect one another.  In the end, they convert the entire ocean to their kind ways.  This is a great children's book about bullying!  I love that it helps to teach respect.

For more information on Hugo, click here.

You can also read my reviews and those of other readers on Amazon and Goodreads.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

26

Today I turned 26.  This has to be, by far, the worst birthday yet.  I was awakened at 5 am to my sister panicking that Mom is sick and trouble her teenage son got himself in to.  The selfish part of me was pissed that she work me up that early and didn't even wish me a happy birthday.  It was my day to be greedy and shitty and I didn't get it.  I'm sad.  That's just how it is.  And, I'll probably be sad until we get some answers which should happen within the next two weeks.  I just want to be selfish and I can't.  Other people have needs and wants and those should be prioritized over my selfish ones.

So, to answer the people that asked what I was doing for my special day, I got up and got kids ready and delivered to their appropriate places.  I was went to work, worked an 8 hour day and then rushed to pick up said children, deliver them at home and then went to Parent Orientation at Gabby's school.  I came home to dinner, homework and bedtime.  It was nothing special.  It was Thursday.

If the last 24 hours are any indication of how 26 is going to treat me, I'm going in to hibernation for the next year.  I'll see you in 2014.