The Birthday Mystery!!!!

Basketball season is over!!! What , What! That is my reaction when I get excited about things, please excuse it, and forget I ever said it. You are all just lucky you don't have to witness my dancing when I get really happy. It is like a tribal indian dance gone bad. I'll stop there.

Anyway, I need your help in figuring out a mystery. You better believe I'm going all Nancy Drew on you. (by the way, I always dreamed of being Nancy Drew.... solving mysteries with Ned and driving my convertible around town- I guess I came close.... driving my first car a Datsun which broke down every 30 miles around town with my 6ft 6 future Coach squished in it, and trying to solve the mystery of how to get it home... a girl can dream).

Back to my mystery!!!!  Over the last month I have been receiving letters from an unmarked sender at my house. Each piece of mail has an individual letter(alphabet letter) in the envelope. Luckily I recognized the handwriting, or I would have been really freaked out. (Of course it is my sister! She is a student teacher right now. Who else would decorate the envelopes with colored markers and hearts?) She has been sending me these random letters now each week, and I have no idea what they are supposed to spell.

My birthday is this Sunday, and apparently these letters are supposed to give me a clue about what she is getting me for my birthday. I thinks she thinks it is fun to torment me :)  There is a final letter that arrived yesterday, that I am not allowed to open until tomorrow, and she said I cannot have my gift unless I figure out the clues :( 

Well, I cannot figure out what the letters could spell, so I am asking for your help!!!! I've been given a hint that it could be an acronym..... Still doesn't help.  (And no this is not cheating! You are just helping in the process! Just don't tell my sister. ) 

The Coach's Widow's Tips to Staying Sane for Moms

How to stay sane as a mom:

1. First and foremost, Take time for you!!!

I have a hard time with this sometimes because I feel like mommy knows best. Yes, Daddy may let them eat 3 starches for dinner but they will survive while I take a half an hour to write, or enjoy a night out with my girlfriends. This pertains to taking time out for you to spend time with your husband as well. Coach and I make it a point to go on at least one date a month. Many times we have the babysitter come over after 2/3 kids are asleep, but at least we have the chance to reconnect and remember the special things we love about each other that are harder to see with spit up on your shirt, or Barney songs playing in the background.  

2. Ask for help. I have such a hard time with this. In my head, if I can't do something on my own then I'm weak. I have learned that even the most successful people have to get help. All the Hollywood celebrities have assistants, maybe that's what I need ;)

Grammie loves giving babies baths in
the sink!!! I love taking pics of
it!

3. Say No. As a mom there are people asking you for things left and right. On top of your families needs there are always others asking for your help. Don't overload your plate. Learn to say no if you really don't have time or the energy to fully fulfill those obligations and continue to be a great mom. There will always be someone who is disappointed if you say no, but the most important thing is your health, and the needs of your family.

Sometimes you have to be stern!

4. Realize that no one is perfect. Doing your best and putting forth effort for your family is all that matters. Parenting and perfection do not go together. It is more like a hill you are trying to climb. Sometimes you need to sit down and take a break, sometimes you may go downhill a little, but you are always working toward being at the top (you can't leap to the top of a mountain, it takes a lot of effort and trials to reach the peak, but the view from the top is worth the work).

5. Give up the guilt. Everyone has different expectations and beliefs about what form of parenting is best. As long as love and energy is put into raising your children, you should feel like you are doing a good job. I constantly feel guilty for everything (sitting down to rest even makes me feel guilty sometimes when I feel like my time could be more productively spent another way). Guilt is never productive.

Happy Healthy Moms = Happy Healthy Kids

 If your children see and feel that you are enjoying life, they in turn will see what they need to do to enjoy their own lives.

We're Fishtailing It!

Hair and Makeup Monday:


Today I decided to write a post featuring a fun new hairstyle (it may not be new, but it's new to me).
 Many times I get stuck in a rut with my hair, so I was set on finding a fresh new style. Allure.com has some really great ideas! I went through a list of new hair ideas for 2011, and found one that really caught my eye.


I have been seeing this hairstyle on t.v., and in magazines, but never really thought I could pull it off on my own hair. Well, I tried it for y'all, and you can be the judge of the outcome.

The Fishtail Braid



This is my inspiration. Let's just get this out there: I will
be doing the cute version of this pic. The sexy version is
not happening :)


 

According to Allure, a fishtail is a more interesting version of a side braid. (oohh....ahhhh)

Steps to creating the fishtail braid:

1. Seperate hair into two sections instead of three.

2.  Pull a few strands from the outside of one section and weave it over to the underside of the second section

 

3. Repeat the same motion from the opposite side

4. Keep alternating until you reach the end, then secure with an elastic. (Wish I had a clear elastic band, but had to go with what I had).

5. To dress up the style, wrap a scarf around your head like a headband and tie it in a messy knot or bow.

It took me approximately 3 trys before getting the braid to the tightness that I wanted. It helped to wrap a section and pull it upwards to tighten the braid. I also had to remind myself that it looks just as cute with a few strands poking out. It is a side braid, so messy is okay.

Overall I really like the look of this braid. I definitely don't have time to do this every morning, but may try it if I wake up with a little bit of extra time. This style also works for a relaxed night out.

Speechies and the Stars

I apologize for the break in posts. This week I attended the yearly conference for speech therapists in Houston (Internet was only available with a per minute charge at the Hilton-and we've established that I am way too cheap for that-sorry y'all).

Hilton Lobby- Liked this light!

I attend this conference to learn more about my profession, but definitely didn't pass up the opportunity to see my grad school friends and get to know the ladies I work with better.  I also really enjoyed swimming in the indoor pool, and having my bed made for me every day. It felt very strange waking up and only having to worry about getting myself ready (oh how I used to take that for granted).


I got to meet up with my graduate school friends one evening and have dinner. It felt like we had not even been apart.  I don't know about you, but there are always those people in the restaurant that sound like they are having way too much fun. They are laughing annoyingly loud, and I secretly wonder what is so funny or so exciting. We were them :) I loved seeing my gals!


On my last evening in Houston I had a very unexpected experience. While walking to the "House of Blues" for dinner with a few ladies we passed 3 buses parked along the side of the road. Now, because my sister is friends with some Texas country singers, I recognized that they looked like a tour bus that musicians travel on. It was lit up and we could see a  guitar and a playlist through the window (promise we weren't stalking, just glancing). Jamie, one of the ladies walking with me, said "It says Good Directions and God is Great, do you know any of those songs?" I said, "Oh my gosh, I bet that is Billy Currington's bus." Just so y'all know, I love country music, and I really like his songs, so I was pretty excited. We figured he was around there somewhere close and decided to keep our eyes open.

After dinner we were pretty sad that we hadn't seen Billy. We had heard that he was going to be singing at the Houston Rodeo the next day. I thought it was pretty cool that I had seen his bus, so I wasn't too upset. As we were walking back to our hotel, we passed by the buses and stopped to look up at the Four Season's Hotel they were parked in front of. We began talking about how nice it would be to stay there, and that, that was probably where the band was. As we were discussing this, a man standing next to the buses asked how we were doing tonight. We told him we were fine and ended up having a conversation with him. Well, it turned out that he was the production manager for Billy Currington. He showed us the bus and we chatted with him for a while. Very nice guy. He gave us tickets to the upcoming Billy Currington concert in San Antonio, and set us up to get a meet and greet with Billy (the concert is April 15th, so I will keep y'all updated on the status of that!).


Overall, it was a great trip! Fun, exciting, and a few days to escape the trials of everyday life. I did miss my babies bunches, and couldn't wait to get home to Coach! There's no place like home!

We headed out to the river today! So much fun.
It was so good to come back and
kiss these faces!

P.S.,  Coach's team  finished out basketball season as Regional Semifinalists!!!! This had not been done at his school since 1974! Congrats Coach, y'all did an amazing job! Lots of sacrifice, but for a great cause.

Today's Makeup Monday post :

Mascara

Mascara is the staple of every makeup bag. If you only choose one thing to put on before you run out of the house in the morning, it is mascara! So, if I am going to have very little time to put on very little makeup, then it will be one that makes the biggest difference.

I decided to try a new mascara that claims to lengthen your lashes dramatically.

L'Oreal Telescopic Intense Looking Lengthening Mascara Blackest Black

Their claim:

"For clump-free, perfectly defined longer lashes. L'oreal introduces new telescopic clean definition mascara for lashes with telescopic length, perfect definition, and a clump-free, natural end result. The patented no clump brush cleanly defines and lengthens up to 60 %."

Type of Mascara: Lengthening
Colours Available: Black, Blackest Black & Brown



When I first opened this mascara I realized that the wand is different than most I have used. It is long and flexible and does not have a brushy end, but more of a separator. I opened it, and swiped on a a coat.

This mascara impressed me for many reasons. It only took one coat, and really seemed to lengthen my lashes. I've always dreamed of long lashes, and this definitely did the trick. I have now worn this mascara for a week, and have not had any flaking. It is very long lasting (this is a plus!!!  because I constantly have allergies and itchy eyes which I can't stand not rubbing)

Okay, so I must really love y'all for letting you see
my naked eye :)



This was with one coat of mascara! I was pretty impressed.
I took these pic's with my phone camera, so
please excuse my unenthusiastic look :)
I was concentrating!
All for the love of makeup.

  Pros:

• This mascara gives lots of length and very little clumping.
• It gives good clean definition, and looks natural
• Creates long looking bottom lashes
• Does not feel too heavy but still looks dramatic 
• Does not have a scent
• Is safe for contact lens wearers
• Gives good separation of lashes
• Quick and easy to apply no mess, clean wand.
• Widely available : Wal-Mart, Walgreens, CVS
• Good pricing

Cons:

• Does not give much volume for those with thin lashes
• Does not curl lashes much
• Does not come in waterproof- for those of you like me who occasionally break out into random tearing when our children say sweet things, or when we watch movies like "An Affair to Remember."

Overall:
Quality: Good
Price: Great (approximately $7-$10 depending on where you buy)
Would I buy again? Yes

Fits into our category of

Simple, Affordable, and Functional!

Just a Swingin

My kids love to go to the park. They love to slide, and climb the monkey bars. They love to play in the sand (and throw sand in each others hair), but their favorite activity at the park is the swing.

I think I have spent hours of my life pushing children on the swing. I don't mind doing it, because it keeps them happy and entertained and not saying, "Mom, I'm thirsty" or "Mom, I'm hungry." The hunger is constant in my little starved monkeys, I swear! But it is not until recently that I got the chance to experience why they love it so much.

For Valentines day, Coach got me a swing.

I know it seems like something that you get when you are old, but I feel old :) Just kidding, I have always loved swings. My parents used to have one on our front porch, and it was the only thing that I could use to put my little brother to sleep when I would babysit (If my mom is reading this, she is saying "Yeah, cause you babysat like what... 1 time????"  I know. I know. I was not much of a baby person back then, but when I was forced, it worked :)   Who would have thought I would have 3 of my own monkeys before I was 30. Oh how God laughs at your plans :() He always has better ones.

I promise the baby has two shoes.... but I don't promise that
both are ever on at the same time *sigh

I have come to believe that this is one of the best inventions ever, and not only does it swing, it turns into an outdoor lounging area (lays down flat into a bed.... lounging area sounds so chic....I almost spelled chic as sheek, I guess that proves I don't really portray the word).  It is my new area of relaxation. Coach's team made it to the playoffs, and have been doing really well, but that means more time on my own figuring out ways to stay sane and keep kids entertained. I've loved sitting outside, soaking in the southern sun, and watching as my kiddos fight to see how monkeys can fit in a wagon (sounds like the name of a children's song.....hmmm). It's entertaining.

I watched an episode of "The Middle" yesterday (recorded on my DVR-because I no longer get to watch shows when they really come on) and it talked about how adults should revert to things they did as children to reduce stress. The parents were both skipping by the end of the show. I think this is my reversion (not sure that's a word, I love making them up). Swinging.  If you have read my previous post about cartwheels, you know how that worked out. (Still no progress)

As you can see, many times I have to wait
for my turn on the swing

Anyway, I would recommend attempting something you loved doing as a kid and see how it makes you feel. Let me know what yours is, and how it turns out! Good luck!

P.S., Coach's team won their second round of playoffs tonight!!!! Congrats to my homebody hubby!

Remember to Take the Time to Care

I saw this video today and had to share.

***Warning, it brought a tear to my eye*****
(but it doesn't take much, I'm kind of a baby).


It helped remind me how important it is to not just go through the day looking at my own problems, but to make sure to acknowledge others and support them as well. Sometimes our struggles are minor compared to what others are facing.


The video was made for employees of Chic-fil-A. Good chicken and a good message!!!

Every Life Has a Story from Dan T. Cathy on Vimeo.