#VodkaBreak: Red Headed Step-Child

It's whipped, red, and delicious -perfect for a #VodkaBreak My bestie's bday was this week, and we magically managed to have a kid free night.  Two boxes of red hair dye, some sprite, grenadine, and $30 in vodka later, we were ready for a Girls Night In. The result was some fabu new red hair, and a redhead inspired drink to share with all of you lovely readers. Pinnacle Whipped Ingredients: Whipped Cream flavored...

Read More

#loveblog: Strengthening Your Marriage When You're Growing Different Directions.

Growing apart isn't always a bad thing. This week, I discovered that I accidently like a Justin Bieber song.  For a Green Day and Metallica loving, combat boot wearing, punk mom, that's a horrifying realization. (I'm turning red just typing this.) As I wondered about this horrible change in events, I started thinking back to when J and I first met, and I listened to as much Country music (Redneck Woman, anyone?) as I did rock, and how...

Read More

#SundayFunday: Mason Jar Garden

Easy Indoor Herb Garden Project #SundayFunday: Mason Jar Garden I'm a little under the weather today.  Stress levels up, energy (and caffeine levels) down, and a bit of a migraine. I flop down on the bed next to J, who is engaged in gaming, and start pondering #SundayFunday activites, that I don't have to go to the store to buy stuff for. (I really should start planning further in advance) "I want to make backdrops, but don't want...

Read More

9 Lessons for my daughters

Things I want my daughters to know There are all kinds of things a person should know before adulthood: how to fry an egg, how to change a tire, how to do perfect winged eye liner (sorry, girls,  mom still doesn't know that one). Some lessons are more important than others though. 9 Lessons for My Daughters: Protect your credit. Pay your bills on time. Put responsibilities before fun. I know I haven't always been the best model...

Read More

Surviving The Big C

How to survive cancer Cancer. The word numbs the soul.  It creates terror. It causes hopelessness and despair.  It strikes without prejudice, affecting young an old, rich and poor, regardless of race, religion, politics, or affiliations.  In 2016, it is estimated that there will be over 1,680,000 new diagnoses, resulting in almost 600,000 deaths.  That's over 4,600 cases every day. But now, the Big C has met it's...

Read More

#LoveBlog link up post!

In honor of the upcoming holiday, I'll be joining the BelleBrita.com #loveBlog link up party!  Check back this month for posts on the topic of love! ...

Read More

10 Things No One Ever Tells You About Kinship Care

10 Things You Should Know About Raising a Relative's Kids You should really know this No one really talks about kinship care, even though almost 7.8 million children live with family members who are not their parents.  That's a huge group to have almost nothing said about it. When we became the guardians of Trey and Chell, we assumed, as many do, that it would be fairly straight forward.  The state wanted us to take them. We were...

Read More

#SundayFunday: Yummy Valentine's Day Gift for Teachers

Popcorn Balls and Rice Krispy Treats Make a Yummy Gift for Teachers Gift for Teachers In the Spirit of the upcoming holiday, we whipped up a gift teachers are sure to love!    These delicious treats are yummy, easy for even littles to make, and inexpensive enough to cover every teacher the big kids see during the day! INGREDIENTS: POPCORN BALLS 2 bags of microwave popcorn Marshmallows and chocolate...

Read More

Avoiding a Day Care Nightmare

Finding the right fit for your special needs child Trey got kicked out of Day Care today. They say he had a melt down and started hitting and kicking. It Went Something like this Sadly, I know this is likely true. He's done it at home. He has behavioral problems, most likely associated with his (severe) adhd. Finding a day care is hard in any situation. It's hard to choose who to trust your children to. It's difficult to...

Read More

Turning the "Me-Can'ts" into the "I Cans"

Instilling confidence in your kids Yes, you can! The little girls are doing glitter-art while I fix lunch. Cay has already unleashed a flood of glitter onto her paper, when all of a sudden, I hear her utter the  dreaded "me-can't". "Mommy, Me-Can't do it!" But I know she can, because she's been doing it for several minutes. Life as a kid is hard! The Reality of Childhood Contrary to what we adults would like...

Read More

Awesome Mom: Small Victories in the World of Parenting

The time I became the Awesome Mom Today, I discovered that, in my daughter's circle of friends, I'm the awesome mom. My interest was piqued. In my experience, growing up, the 'cool' mom was the one who let her kids drink, smoke, hold raucous parties, and stay out all night. I don't allow any of that. I had to know. What, exactly, makes an awesome mom? I'm feeling myself today According to D, all of her friends think I'm...

Read More

Dealing With The State: Who's Your Daddy?

I can feel the tension spreading across my back - always carry tension in my back and shoulders - and the pain from the ensuing muscle spasms makes it hard to breathe. My head hurts. I'm. Emotionally exhausted. I've been reduced to tears of frustration at least once today, and waves of helplessness and hopelessness have crashed over me through out the day. Fostering, or what ever it is I'm doing, is never easy. There are countless struggles...

Read More

#SundayFunday: Miniature Bird Houses

A Cute birthday birdhouses An easy, inexpensive craft project for kids   This inexpensive bird hose and some paint make a great kid's project  Grampy's birthday is next weekend, so we decided to make birthday presents for #SundayFunday.  Gramps is an avid birdwatcher, and a huge Dallas Cowboys fan, so we whipped up some mini birdhouses, in blue, white, and grey. These birdhouses can be found in Walmart in the...

Read More