Random Acts of Kindness

So Today I did my 29 RAOK. Its my 29th birthday today! I didnt feel very much like celebrating. Im not a party girl, not a bar girl. When I found this idea I just had to do it.  Here are the images and I will explain each after the picture

 Look at that concentration!

 Kaylee working hard on her cards for hospital patients

 The finished product from Kaylee for hospital patients

 Jeremy's cards for elderly people

 Candy bar for the postmaster

 We left scratch offs at 4 gas pumps

 Cookies and cards for Jeremy's daycare teachers

 A bottle of laundry detergent that we left at a local laundry mat

 This was fun...went to the $1 store and hid dollars behind toys. What a surprise for someone

 And yet another one!

 On the hospital elevator dropping off coloring books, crayons and cards. The person from the hospital was super appreciative

 Dropping off cards at a elderly home. I was hoping to hand deliver some, but they didnt seem interested

 Here is a random card placed on a towing sign

 Dropping cookies off to Grandmoms job! She wasnt there, so we left some nice pictures for her

 Another random card at a bus stop. It reads Make today a great day because everyday is a gift

 Sidewalk chalk left at a local playground

 Stopped by Daddys work to drop off some cookies

 Daddy wasnt there either, so we left him so notes!

 We got some balloons at the $1 store and handed them out to kids (with moms approval)

 Anyone want a  free soda?

 How about a free snack?

 We left some quarters at one of the ride toys at the mall

 Another random card it read, Someone, somewhere is missing you

 Quarters at the gum ball machine

 We stopped by the dentist office and dropped off some coloring books and crayons

 How about some popcorn with your movie?

 We went Ding Dong Ditching...and left 2 neighbors with Ding Dongs!

 We took my dad out to lunch, paid for his lunch, and left the waitress a 50% tip

This was fun. We got a $25 TGIF gift card, turned right around and handed it to the cashier. The look on his face was priceless.


The other things that were not pictured 1. I made the kids breakfast, since it was my birthday then was a big deal 2. Mailed a letter to a friend...stamp and all! Even offered her a pedicure on my bill 3. Wrote a positive review about a company we used recently, Usually the only time I fill those things out is when I want to complain. 4.Held a door open for someone 5.Made an appt to donate blood (I couldnt donate since I donated back in November) 6.Left pennies in the parking lot for kids to pick up, also left a pile in the mall 7.Dont speak negatively...this was a hard one, especially since someone at the hospital made me mad in the parking lot!

Things were a little stressful. Trying to get all 29 things done with 2 kids in tote was a little hard. I was worried I wouldn't have enough time. I didn't want to lie to myself and take a "freebie" on a RAOK which really wasn't one. I put a lot of pressure on myself about the whole thing. I think it would've been more enjoyable if I hadn't been so serious about it. Or maybe spread it out, instead of 29 things in one day, maybe 29 days of one nice thing. I wanted to be able to see some peoples reaction. Maybe sit back and just watch. But then I didnt. What if I saw one person just take the money...not buy a soda with it, just yank the quarters and leave. Or if someone noticed quarters in the gum ball machine and then went thru all the machines and took all the quarters. So Im kinda glad I didnt watch what happened.
Driving back a couple stops later that evening, everything was gone, the scratch offs, the popcorn. It was kinda sad. All the work and thought, gone. I can only *hope* that one person took one. And one person didnt take it all (like the scratch offs at the gas station)
The kids and I had a great day. I think what made it so great is we were together all day. We did some spontaneous things like play at the playground, play at the mall playground, stopped by the arcade, sat at the mall while the kids ran around playing. At the end of the day, those are the things that stick out. Lunch with my dad, the kids laughter, the homemade dinner Dave made, hiding behind cars with Kaylee while she "ding dong ditched" her friends.
It was a great project. The kids and I working together to make the cards, dropping things off, and putting things together. I hope that Kaylee learned Tis better to give than to receive.
But most of all I hope she realizes how nice it was to just spend time together. And we dont have to go to a amusement park to do something fun. That we dont have to sit infront of the tv all the time. That sometimes the little things mean the most.
I love my family. And somehow, today...I appreciate them even more than I did yesterday

It's been awhile...

So yeah it has been awhile! I don't know who I thought I was fooling thinking I could keep up with a blog. 

I'll try again since it's 2012.

My recent addiction has become pinterest. It is such a cool site with tons of ideas that I must try! If I could just get OFF the computer to do them. With a new year in tote maybe I will try some. I guess I can make a "resolution" to try one a month. It is full of awesome recipes as well which I'd like to try out too.

I think if I'm going to do a better job with my blogs, they will have to be shorter. Considering I can barely find time to write anything, it will be a lot less stressful if I make them short and sweet.

I've fallen off the coupon train. I want to try again. I have a huge pile of coupons to go thru. I miss all the money I was saving but it is SO time consuming. I just feel like I don't have enough time to do anything I want. As I sit here typing I'm thinking of all the things that I want to do but don't know how to fit it all in.

I'd like to get into my exercise routine again, I'd like to clip coupons and get good savings again, I'd like to try more recipes for dinner' I'd like to blog more, I'd like to spend more time with my kids.

So if anyone knows a good time management person, please introduce them to me!!  I already get up at 545am to be at work by 730am. Then I dont get off until 4pm. And by the time I get Jeremy, start dinner, help with homework, bath time....well... Where is "me" time???  Still trying to figure it all out. 

I would LOVE to exercise first thing in the morning to get it out of the way. But I'm tired and not a morning person and I like to sleep. I don't know how hard I could push myself at 5am. So that leaves me with late night workouts. After the kids go to sleep, around 9ish. I like to think of that as my "relax unwind" time. Since thats usually the first time I can sit down without doing something. The idea of exercising 3 nights a week, couponing 1 night a week and blogging 1 night a week is overwhelming to me. That's 4 nights a week I have things to do. Like I said...still trying to figure it all out. 

So my birthday is in 9 days! That is the real reason I was prompted to update my blog. Ive deceided to do "29 acts of random kindness" in honor of my 29th birthday. I read about this on a blog and thought, What a WONDERFUL idea!!! I love giving to others much more than I like to receive. And this year my birthday just feels so...blah. I just don't care. I don't do bars, or clubs, my house is in construction and even if I did do anything...I have ONE friend so seriously how lame would that party be. This seems fitting and I'm actually really excited about it! I put together a list today of 29 things I would like to do. I tried to keep my costs down since I don't have that kind of cash laying around. I'm pretty happy with my list tho. Once Ive done everything I will post a blog about all the RAOK. Super excited about this.

Let It Be

I believe in life we rarely meet people that are true, genuine real friends. Friendships that are lifelong are hard to come by. I'm a firm believe that's friendship should not be work. It should just be.

Friendship is not a marriage, its not a relationship. Friendships just are.

Ive been let down my fair share of times. Ive been stood up my fair share of times. But my best friends are truly the ones I can go weeks without speaking to but when I need to talk to them, they are willing to talk to me.

They don't complain that I haven't talked to them, they don't act cold towards me because I haven't talked to them in a couple weeks. Its as if we never had a lapse in conversation.

Don't get me wrong, I give my friends a hard time when they don't call or text me. Jokingly of course. I give them a hard time because I want to make sure they KNOW that if they ever need me, I'm there. Its not so much that I'm upset because they haven't talked to me. But I just don't want them to ever feel like they have no one. 

Sometimes I take things to personally, I get my feelings hurt, or I feel like I'm not "important". But that's just me, that's who I am. I'm sensitive. But...my friends get me

Being alone is...well its not fun. Its a sad thing to feel like you have no one to turn to. I don't ever want my friends to feel like that. 

Earlier this year I had a falling out with what I considered to be a good friend. If she was to call me this moment needing me, I would be there circumstances willing. 

My kids come first, always will...If you don't like that, well I will not apologize for that! My friends realize my priorities and respect them. Even if they don't understand it, they respect it.

I like to think I'm a good friend. I like to think that I'm available for my friends when they need me....circumstances permitting. Im honest, even if I know its going to hurt. Because the truth always hurts less then a lie

"You cant be happy with someone else if you arent happy with yourself"
Sound familiar? It should...its a common saying.
But what does it MEAN!? Why do I have to be happy with myself? I dont like this saying.

Im not happy with myself and I dont think I EVER will be. There are things that I would LOVE to change about the way I look. And unless I win the lotto and can afford surgery, these are things I cannot change.

I love my kids though. I love my kids with everything Iam. I would do anything for them. They make me BEYOND happy. So what I dont like myself. Thats not affecting them. Im careful as to what I say so I dont affect Kaylees image of herself. But other then that, the fact that I dont like things...has no effect on them.

So...this is why I say...this statment is horse$hit!!

wait...teal? I thought it was pink?

So the saying is, "You cant teach a old dog new tricks". Meaning people cant change. Once they are set in there ways, that's the way they stay. But there has to be some kind of age on this right? What is considered a "old dog"? Are your habits set by age 13, 18, 28, 38? You get my point. That statement is very vague. Or maybe its not really meant to mean anything. Maybe its just a excuse for the people who aren't willing to change. So you are just suppose to accept it and move on...cant teach um they just wont learn.

As a little girl I loved barbies and pink! Care Bears, My Little Pony, Rainbow Brite, Jem! Ahh life was easy. Wake up from a nap to cold milk and fresh cookies. Play store with the treadmill, pretend trips to Atlantic City in my brothers car shaped bed. Things have changed, times have changed. Ive gotten older and its not the same anymore.

I was never one to stand out. I'm still not! But I want to do things. Nothing in particular but if there is something I want to do, I should be able to do it. Whatever it is. So what if I didn't do it 10 years ago, I want to do it now! The older I get the more I realize how short life is and how I just want to be happy! The things that didn't seem fun 10 years ago, may seem fun now. Doesn't make me  a bad person. Just makes me a more appreciative person.

So what I want to color my hair, cut it, go sky diving, get a tattoo! 

People change. You can either support them in there change, change with them, or want the person you knew back. But if you love someone or something, shouldn't you accept it thru all its changes? Good, bad and other?

I hate that saying "I want the old you back" Cliche right? You hear it all the time on the Lifetime movies. Right before they say they want a divorce, one of them says "I want the old you back". Who is that benefiting tho? The person who is asking that's who! Then the other person says "that's not me anymore". Then the other person wonders, what happened? Why this change?? Life happened! Age happened, maturity happened. Doesn't make either person a bad person. They are just different!

Life is constantly evolving around us. One minute you have the latest and greatest and within days it is "old" or replaced by the newest latest and greatest.

So in a world that is constantly changing, how can one possibly stay the same? You have to evolve, change, it order to adapt.

Some changes are minor...like there fighting the urge to really let loose! Other changes are monumental! I'm not saying to go from a straight edge to a junkie. But break your mold! If you wanna do something, freaking do it!!  I do not want to be on my death bed and think, GOSH I should've done __________. I want to DO.

So yeah, maybe I have changed since high school. But I'm 28 now...so isn't that to be expected? I believe I'm still the same caring person who wanted nothing more but kids. But I'm more jaded now, a little rougher and little tougher. Life will do that to ya. Make your skin tougher. It HAS to. Adapt...change.... in order to survive. 

So either let me be me or get outta my way! Change is inevitable. You make mistakes to learn, and so it wont happen again. You get braver, stronger and smarter. 

My favorite color is teal green...its not pink. I will continue to learn new tricks

I'm the kinda girl......

1. Who is the first person to find out you are pregnant, but not invited to the baby shower
2. Who doesn't get invited to girls night, and even if I was invited, probably wouldn't go, but it still bothers me not to get asked
3. Who has SO many ambitions, but as soon as I see how much work is needed, I quickly give up
4. Who eats more when people aren't watching
5. Who gets overly emotionally involved in other friends problems
6. Who is sad when you are sad, mad when you are mad, worried when you are worried
7. Who feels guilty for not spending every moment of my free time with my kids
8. Who can give GREAT advice....but when it comes to taking it, yeah...not so great
9. Who is stubborn! I have a opinion and even though I may not state it, you cannot change it
10. Who strangers talk to and feel compelled to tell their whole life story
11. Who takes EVERYTHING personal, if even for a second I think it might have to do with me, I think its about me
12. Who thinks it is MUCH better to give then to receive. There is no greater joy then finding the perfect gift for someone!
13. Who believes it is the little things that means the most...Actions speak louder then words. And sometimes the less someone says, the better
14. Who is a dessert junkie
15. who likes to experiment in the kitchen...and if it doesn't taste good the first time I will keep trying. I have made 9 pumpkin loaves in one evening because I didn't like the first batch
16. Who loves bath towels!
17. Who loves a good book. I refuse to buy a damn kindle. There is nothing like a actual book and the smell of a old library book
18. Who believes I was born in the wrong time period. 
19. Who wants to learn to swing dance
20. Who likes to be outside, walking, laying on the beach, hammock or sitting on a deck. Minus the mosquitoes
21. Who sometimes just wants silence! No tv, no radio, no talking...just silence.
22. Who likes the toilet paper going OVER not under
23. Who sometimes doesn't mind shopping by myself
24. Who goes into a store, and looks at the mannequin and buys that EXACT outfit because I know it will look good
25. Who wont tell you if you've upset me, or hurt me. 
26. Who HATES confrontation, make love not war :)
27. Who loves how it feels after a good workout, but needs some serious motivation to get the workout started.
28. Who wants to try all the local places that were on Drivers Dive Ins and Dives
29. who cannot stand to think someone is mad or displeased with me
30. Who wants everyone to like her. maybe not love, but just not hate!
31. Who is NOT the life of the party LOL
32. Who is giggly after ONE drink

......and that is all for now :)

Girl Crush

Some have questioned my love for lady gaga. " Why do you love her so much? She dresses so weird! Shes crazy! She has a d!ck" Sigh....

Let me first off by talking her musical talent. I could care less if she has two heads on her. She can sing her ass off, she can play the piano and write her own songs. Ive been to many concerts and Ive seen lip syncing. She did not lip sync the entire concert. She went out, there danced like no ones business and sang the WHOLE time. Don't get me wrong, I like Britney Spears but she doesn't sing AT ALL. When you go to see her show, your going to see her dance and that's about it. Lady Gaga got on the piano and played a beautiful ballad. And the fact that she can turn her feelings into written art without coming out and saying what shes trying to say is amazing to me. If I was going to write a song about a ex it would be like Taylor Swift style, saying He broke my heart Im sad. Lady Gaga puts this crazy twist on it like...The stars hid within the clouds and the moon was lost LOL. I dunno, but you get the point.

                    One of her many outfit and set designs

             Me and my BFF Laura

               Were so adorable

                 Her concerts are HUGE productions

Another HUGE HUGE main reason I love her is because she just doesn't care! She doesn't care if people think she has a d!ck, or if she wears a meat suit. She is who she is. She was (cliche) Born that way. And shes proud of who she is. Her confidence is so admirable. If I had 1/10 of her confidence I would be a much better person. I'm concerned about wearing shorts! And she doesn't care what she wears. Well she cares. See that's the thing, her outfits have thought that goes into each one. There is a story behind every outfit. She just doesn't wear it to be different. Everything has a purpose.

She didn't grow up rich. She got to where she is thru hard work.She believed in something and she wasn't going to give up until she got what she KNEW she could attain. I think again it all comes back to confidence. She knew she could do it and succeed. So even if she hit a road block, she knew eventually she would make it.

I'm sure there are a lot of artists out there who have gone thru similar things. But there is just something about Gaga that draws me to her. She makes me feel like I can do anything, well her music does! I listen to her songs and think, if she can do it...I can do it. Even if I hit roadblocks, eventually I will be where I'm suppose to be.