if you were wondering...

how long a treadmill runner can run outside with lots of hills in the pollen and heat, the answer is about a mile.

If you were wondering how long it takes for a happy, playful toddler to go from extremely adorable to extremely naughty, the answer is about 2 minutes or exactly how long it took him to have a successful #2 after we arrived at the playground 1.5 miles away from home.

If you were wondering how many people stare at you while you force a kicking and screaming toddler into a jogger, the answer is around 30...or the equivalent of however many people are at the playground.

If you were wondering how many contacts an allergy sufferer can lose during a 3 mile walk, the answer is 2.

If you were wondering how many males and females I passed on the 1.5 mile walk back home, I can't tell you because I couldn't see anything.

If you were wondering how long a toddler can scream during a 1.5 mile walk, the answer is about a mile...OR the equivalent of the time it takes for you to realize you have games on your phone.

If you were wondering how long it takes you to stop being frustrated with said toddler for causing the biggest scene to date, it's about an hour...or the time it takes to get him bathed, fed, and sitting at the dinner table where his daddy tells him to say sorry to mommy.

If you were wondering how long it takes for you to forget why you were even mad when a 2 year old tells you he loves you, the answer is 2 seconds.

If you were wondering what mommy's eyes look like after all is said and done:

If you were wondering how many days it takes for mommy to try the playground again, it's TBD.

I'm guessing in May...or about when allergy issues slow down for this mommy.

the other sister, helen.

You've been anxiously awaiting this one.

Don't lie.

An Ode to Helen

I like to post pictures

where I look prettier than you,

It's super duper hard

cuz there are so few.

You make me laugh so hard,

which wasn't always the case;

You used to punch me in the back,

and then I'd punch your face.

You asked "what happened to the bread?"

And we'd all die laughing.

You're awesome from the brains in your head

to your old school rapping.

Jason, Luda, Ben Folds Five

You'd die happy if you could marry these guys.

We've had some interesting taste in men,

people could definitely tease us,

but don't get it twisted,

Helen's main man is Jesus.

Your face gets super red

when I run around nakey.

It's my quality you dread,

but I yell "SHAKE 'N BAKEY!"

You got a bangin' body

and a hot booty, too.

The only thing missing from my bridesmaid clan

is YOU!

Go ahead, Helen.  Shake your head at me.

You know you LOVE it.



on trend.

I am not a fashion blogger.

Read more about that here.

As I've mentioned before, I tend to happen upon trends and run with it.

Trending now: braids.

I am addicted to Pinterest.

The food, the hair, the tutorials!

I can't get enough of it!

Braids started showing up there and I became seriously fascinated with the fishtail braid.

I tried and tried and tried again and I've officially, nearly, almost mastered it.

And I am officially obsessed with braids.

Trending now: Headbands.

What a great way to mask the lumpy hair from falling asleep with it wet!

I stumbled upon LC's website after my sneaking suspicions that she and my BFF, Whitney, are one in the same.

(For the record, Whit, I will NEVER forgive you if you are LC and haven't told me.  Unless you if you give me $$$).

I purchased a few bracelets from Pura Vida, where every bracelet sold goes to help provide jobs for Costa Rican residents (my plug of the day), and bought a pack for kicks.

People, these headbands rule.

They stay on, work for exercising, and make you look like a hippie.

To be honest, the closest I am to a hippie is not washing my hair for 2-3 days at a time, but I sure feel like one.

So, you see, I am actually on trend with my questionable choices in dress and hair.

Not sure if you noticed that denim top there - apparently that's super trendy, too!

comments about my 'fashion choices' as of late:

"what's on your head?" - niece
"are you an indian now?" - general manager
"you got that indian thing going." - boss
"hahahhahahhahah." - big steve

Loving your mama is always on trend, even more so when you become one because you don't want your kids to EVER know about how crappy you were to your mom as a teen.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAMA!

You are awesome and pretty and I'm so glad I act and look like you.

Crock Pot Ranch House Pork Chops.

I first saw the recipe for these on Pinterest and decided it was necessary to try.

SOOOO glad I did.

You know how I feel about crock pots.

They make everything easier and tastier, especially with pork.

Pork tends to be tough, but the crockpot makes them so tender and moist!

Crock Pot Ranch House Pork Chops

adapted from: Picky Palate

1 lb Pork Chops - boneless
1 packet Ranch Dressing Mix

1 can Cream of Chicken Soup (or make your own like I do in a pinch)

1/4 cup Milk

2 cups Frozen Peas (optional)

Mix your Ranch Dressing Mix, Cream of Chicken Soup, and Milk together and pour over Pork Chops in crock pot; your Pork can be frozen or thawed, that's the beauty of a crock pot!

Turn that bad boy on low for 6 hours and be done with it.

I added some Frozen Peas for about 20 minutes and served it with my Homemade Mashed Potatoes and it was super delicious.

This one will defintely make the menu again in the very near future.



Easter & News.

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.

- Matthew 28:6

I always think it's adorable when Stevie talks about Jesus.
Even if he can't possibly grasp His awesomeness yet, I just love it.

Holidays around here are always a big production.
Lots of family, lots of food, lots of noise.
Just the way I like it.

A few snapshots from our celebration:

[beautiful niece.]

[dressed in his Easter best!]

[half crying/half fake laughing]

[the cousins!]

[sweet Austyn!]

[the man.]

[all of Big Steve's maternal cousins!  i love them!]

[us.]

As if Easter wasn't already the bomb, my sister, Wendy - you may have read about her here -
IS PREGNANT!!!

Our family has been waiting for this announcement for years.
I cried tears of joy when she told me and cried every time she told someone after that in front of me.
I just can't WAIT for her to be a mom.

And from moms everywhere to you:
You think you're tired now?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

BEST. WEEKEND. EVER.

punchy.

I am feeling quite punchy today.

A little silly, a little sassy.

Some people call it delirium, but I call it punchy.

It all started in the early morn with a toddler who was REALLY mad that I wouldn't give him milk for his on-the-go Cheerios.

Madness ensued for about 20 minutes.

20 minutes of hysterical crying.

I walked out the door to let Bella out and start the car - crying.

I walked out to let Bella back in - still crying.

I gave him treats to give to Bella.  He took them, but was still crying.

Said goodbye to Bella...........crying more.

Got in the car, gave him his rejected Cheerios, sang a song, tickled his feet.

Still friggin' crying.

About 5 minutes into the drive, he stopped.

Then I laughed. 

Because that's what you do to keep from crying yourself.

Who cares if you look like a complete looney toon?

At least he thought my laughing was funny.

Other fun things today has brought:

- Spit water all over myself.  I have no idea why or how it happened.

- The epiphany that my Whitney looks like Lauren Conrad.  Why didn't I see this before?

- Thoughts that maybe Whitney is LC and is just in hiding - Hannah Montanna style.

- Thoughts of what I will do with the money Whitney/LC gives me soon for being the best friend ever.

- Can I buy Peeta?

- Discovering that 'Catching Fire' doesn't come out on the big screen until Thanksgiving 2013.

- Drafting a letter to the production team of 'Catching Fire' about said discovery.

- Wondering what it would be like to be on the production team of the Hunger Games.

- Jennifer Lawrence is alright, but I'd be a better Katniss.

- Can I cast myself in my own movie?

- Would I have time for my family?

- What about naps?  Will there be time for naps?

I am in my own world today, folks.

Let me be.

a long/great couple of days.

Aside from being really annoyed and borderline depressed about the tease 80 degree week we had that disappeared, I had a really awesome/tiring week.

We celebrated my niece, Austyn's, birthday Thursday at Red Robin (as if there is any other way to do it).

[the birthday girl!]

[my happy fellas.]

[Austyn and her big sister, Ashley.]

Even though I get really sad when kids grow up, it's such a cool thing to watch them learn and grow.  Always appreciate the kids in your life.

Friday night, I made some delicious turkey meatballs.  I am WILD!

Saturday morning, Little Steve and I went to Meemaw's house and he spent the majority of the time eating and running around with his Mater bubble machine.

SPOILED.

After eating more food than necessary, we grabbed this sweet girl and Big Steven and headed down to Lake Anna.

Lake Anna is, by far, one of my favorite places to be.

So relaxing, so pretty, and the kids get to run wild.

It's always a good weekend when we get to see Brittany and her little family.

They live a bit away, so I understand that they can't just up and come see us whenever they want to, but we sure love seeing Baby Brandon, who at 2 months, is almost as heavy as Stevie.

Stevie did a lot of relaxing.

This picture cracks me up!

Watching Sponge Bob, eating some Goldfish, and crossing his legs.

What a dork.

And this is how I judge how successful our weekend was.

He was WIPED out.

Fell asleep on the car ride home around 6 and I had to wake him up this morning to go to work.

All of this was awesome, but the best part of the weekend was hearing Big Steve yell at a cow to get out of the way because he was about to get pooped on.

Then calling the cow a dummy for not moving.

I am living the life, I tell ya.