Instagram and such

Do you have an Instagram?  I do.  However, I rarely use it on the regular.  Lately, I've been into it more.  So I guess this is like my invitation...you can so follow my instagram by finding me @ Momebull.  I've been posting foodie stuff on there lately.  It is stuff that will show up later on this thing.

Now for the and such part....

My bebes are growing.

My Diva is 6 years 4 months and 2 weeks old.  How is that for annoying mom talk?  Why is it when I ask how old a kid is the parent gives me their precise age.  I bet if I didn't give them that "I don't do calculus" look they'd go on down to the precise second of their age.

Anyway she's a hoot.  She is also like guilt trip central.

Case in point - we had a beautiful springy like day  The husband and I decided to clean out the basement and garage.  My darling daughter wanted me to play with her.  Incase you didn't know I'm not a play with you type of mom.  I grew up an only child (except for that thing called a sibling that came when I was all into teenage angst) so by God you better learn to entertain yourself and get an imaginary friend STAT, I don't play.

She played in her little fort thing for a while and then decided to make helping me and her dad a "game".  That worked.  Later that night I realized I may just be a sucky mom for not playing with her.  I felt bad.

Then she pulled her fourth tooth.  We set it out for the tooth fairy.  Disclaimer:  I didn't have a damn tooth fairy.  I pulled my teeth and they went in the trash.  This whole money for teeth gig is a complete and total scam.  Did WE get money when the kid finally teethed those sumbeeches?  Hell no we finally got a night's rest.  Now the kid pulls the things that stole our sanity and we pay them?  Something is WRONG!

So anyway she pulled her tooth and set it out for the fairy.  The fairy just happened to have fell asleep on the job.  No worries right?  Wrong.  When the fairy snuck in at 5:50 AM to put the quarters on the table the kid was awake.  Yes, awake.  The kid even said, "Hey mom what are you doing?"  The mom said, "Go to bed!  I'm taking a shower!"

Epic fail.  No she got her damn dollar the next night.

She is a pretty cool kid though.  I mean duh look at half her genetics (mine of course).  She has an addiction to nasty humor.  She farts and burps and giggles like mad.  (Ok that's the other side's genetics, I still try to stifle a fart.)  She loves school and wants to be school teacher (God bless her sweet, innocent mind.  Mommy will not allow her to teach.  Mommy will tell her to be something respected like a paralegal.)

She loves fashion and spa days.  

She rocks.

My son is a year and some change.  What?  That wasn't good enough for you.  He's like almost 17 months old.  Wait that's wrong he's almost 18 months old.  Crap let me see here, yep its 17.

His sister likes to fart and burp and he likes to crap.  All the time.  Alllll the time.  Must be a boy thing.

He thinks he's a monster these days.  He roars and gets in your face to make sure you hear the roar.  He obviously has a crush on his daycare mate Carter.  He's always blowing her kisses and such.  She apparently has her eye on him too she bats those doe eyes at him all the time.  Puppy love?

What else can I say about my little man?  He talks all the time but its an ancient language no one can decipher.  He loves to run and play chase and eat.  He eats a lot.  However, he's picky as hell with me and yet eats everything the daycare lady throws at him.

Oh and he thinks its great to get us up at like 4:30AM.  He gets bored with his room and must come see mom and dad's room and go to sleep in there.  I have sent him emails explaining this isn't working.

I think he has some mechanical mindedness in that noggin....he really likes to see how things work and then break it down in a random song and dance afterwards.  

I <3 my kids.  

So its called Blood Cancer...

Hey Brownie Fans!  I'm turning my blog over to Rikki today because I want to help her spread the word about how amazingly simple it is to save a life.  For real.  Not kidding.  This is Superman/Wonder Woman stuff that we can all do.  Maybe you can add a new resolution to your 2014 list and it can be "Save somebody's life."  God forbid you have the diagnosis that leads you to waiting on someone to swab a cheek and be a match.  If you did you would want as many people as possible out there to help you right? Right.  Thanks for reading and taking action.  Xoxo-Brownie

Every year for Sam's birthday we opt for people not getting him presents and instead running some sort of "drive". He has collected books, dog treats, and toys for children at Our House. 

But this is year may be his most important "drive" yet. His grandma has been diagnosed with a rare subset of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This is has been a pretty quick progression from her original diagnosis of myelodysplasia (pre-leukemia) from about two months ago. 

Eight years ago, she fought lymphoma with stem-cell transplant and chemotherapy. She has been in remission ever since, but the downside to her beating cancer the first time is that the chemotherapy used then has given her this round of cancer. All the doctors agree, her only chance for a cure is a bone marrow transplant. 

Sam has done everything he can do to make Grandma feel better. He makes sure to give her a vitamin when she comes over to our house. When she is in the hospital, he makes sure to tell her to take her medicine "twice" so she will feel better twice as fast. He just wants Grandma to feel better and take him to the park again. 

He doesn't understand what is wrong with his grandma. He doesn't understand that the only way to make her better is a bone marrow transplant. And there are millions of others out there in the same position. 

That's where you come in! Do you know how easy it is to become a donor? Delete Blood Cancer DKMS, the world’s largest bone marrow donor center, makes it simple to register online. Registering does not include a blood draw or finger prick. It’s painless. You simply fill out a form, swab the inside of your mouth and send it in. That's it!

If you meet the criteria, you can just visit the website or attend a local drive in your area and register to be a donor. You fill in the required information and, if you’re registering online, Delete Blood Cancer will mail you a swab kit with your donor number and more information. You swab the inside of your mouth and send it back at no cost to you. It is that easy! 

What if you are selected?

If you are contacted as a match for a patient, Delete Blood Cancer will ask you to provide a blood sample for a confirmatory blood test arranged by your Delete Blood Cancer coordinator. At this time, they will also test for standard infectious diseases.

There are two methods of donation. The most common is the Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC) donation method, which is used in 75 percent of cases. With this method, cells are collected via the bloodstream. Blood is taken from one arm, filtered through a machine, and replace into the other arm. To increase the number of stem cells in the bloodstream, donors receive daily injections of a synthetic protein called filgrastim for four days before and on the day of the donation. This outpatient procedure usually takes several hours and donors can go home that same day.

                                                                                         

With the other method, the bone marrow is extracted from the back of the pelvic/hip bone using a special syringe. In this method, the donor is given anesthesia so they don't feel a thing during the process. They may experience some soreness at the extraction site for a few days. Most people compare the feeling to having fallen on their bottom while ice skating. This minor discomfort is nothing compared to the joy of saving another person's life! The donation method used depends on the state of the patient and is decided by their doctor. A donor’s marrow completely regenerates within a few weeks after the donation.

So please join us in this Big Bad Blog Delete Blood Cancer Drive! There are several ways you can help, even if you can't register as a potential donor: 

1) Go to DeleteBloodCancer.org, register as a donor and post a picture on Twitter or Instagram of your donor card with #bbbdeletebloodcancer and tag @getswabbed and @rikkidale

2) Like the Delete Blood Cancer Facebook page

4) Take a "Swabbing Selfie" of you swabbing your cheek and post it on Twitter or Instagram with #bbbdeletebloodcancer and tag @getswabbed and @rikkidale

5) Post a picture of you holding an "I swabbed for _______ " or "You should swab because ______" sign with #bbbdeletebloodcancer and tag @getswabbed and @rikkidale

6) Text "DELETE" to 20222 to make a one-time donation of $5 (the donation will be applied to your current phone bill) and post a screenshot on Twitter or Instagram of the text with #bbbdeletebloodcancer and tag @getswabbed and @rikkidale

                                                                                                                                               

The Big Bad Blog will sponsor a giveaway for people that participate in this drive:

A $100 gift card to Amazon.com

A free blog design from Hubby Jack Blog Designs

This giveaway will be open from January 16 - February 28 (to allow you time to get your kit in). Please consider becoming a donor. So many lives depend on it. 

A special thanks to the following AMAZING bloggers for helping to make this happen! These are some phenomenal ladies AND bloggers so please go check them out! 

Nina @ theninashow.com

Holly @ thestanfieldclan.com

Erin @ shesabigstar.com

Meg @ nerkyblog.com

Amanda @ abrownieworld.blogspot.com

Royal @ royalproclaims.blogspot.com

Tammy @ youwouldntcallitadrinkingproblem.com

Kayla @ itskaylalayla.blogspot.com

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Monday, May I?

Hey baby cakes!  How was your weekend? Ours was pretty good.  Friday night I was ready to pull my hair out over the son who thinks the sun shines 24/7 so he should never sleep.  Saturday we had time away from the littles and with good friends.  Sunday I discovered my little loves had shared their chest cold with me and felt pretty blah but pushed on.

So here we are at Monday.  Some of you have today off work - thanks to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  Enjoy this day and do something fun.

Monday on the blog means May I?

Let me see how I did on last week's three things -

1.  Print the pictures.

I did.  I printed them, I framed them and my hubby put them on the wall.  They look great and now I need to get some more items on the wall.  It is amazing how two frames can begin closing in a room.

2.  Get back on the wagon.

Totally did!  No problem because I do like plain jane water.  I've been doing great with my water consumption.  Not bragging just being honest.  My liquid consumption is made up of water and coffee now with a beer or vodka here or there.

3.  Get up early.

Yes, well this is tricky.  I have been getting up early but not because I went to bed, set my alarm, and wake up refreshed with some quiet me time before the family gets up.  Oh no, that would be too easy.  My son is my get up early (and early means any time between 11:30PM and 4:00AM) and just stay on up until he passes out and we have to get dressed.  So I have been getting up early but not for the reason and not exactly in the way I was hoping to.

This week's three:

1.  Find a mirror for the mantle.

I have always kept a mirror over the mantle in the livingroom.  When we gutted the room over the fall I threw out the mirror we had.  Several reasons including:  1.  It wouldn't match  2.  It was chipped.  So yeah.  I miss a mirror over the mantle so I'm on the look out this week.

2.  Feel pretty.

January and February are when I feel just plain out ugly.  We can blame the weather.  I feel like my hair is gross, skin is gross, and I also feel like a big ole fat walrus (jiggle, wiggle, jiggle).  I'm good at moisturizing and cleaning myself (woo hoo go me I'm not 11).  I just want to be more proactive at not getting in a yucky rut.

3.  Ten Minutes

Get ten minutes of cardio each day minus the kids.  This is going to be super hard and I should push it to next week but what the hell lets try it.  This could be a ten minute run or ten minutes of climbing the stairs or jumping rope or something.  I just want to get ten minutes in each day.  I need to, seriously!

What three things do you want to get accomplished this week?

Last week LeeAnn posted three things she wanted to do for the week - hey LeeAnn how did you do? Share it.  Here's what she left in the comment section as her 3 for last week!

1. Put the Christmas decorations in the attic. They have been down for several weeks, but I haven't taken the time to organize them back into boxes and put them away. I am definitely putting this off...

2. Go through the bags of hand-me-down clothes my co-worker gave me.  Brownie note:  I wish I had bags of hand me down clothes to go through!!!!  So jealous over that!

3. Finish writing our 2013 family wrap-up letter and MAIL them with our family Christmas pictures. Thankfully the card I picked out is appropriate for happy new year, but if I don't hurry up, it'll be Valentines Day before our friends get this lovely greeting in their mailboxes!

Whats for Dinner?

Slight change of plans here.  Yep, we're cooking breakfast today and not dinner.

I made a delicious breakfast casserole that is pretty awesome / healthy during the week and I posted a picture of it on Instagram.  No, I do not have my Instagram up for you to follow because I rarely remember to post on it and when I do I give like fifteen shots in a five seconds and well...yeah.

Baked Chocolate & Fruit Oatmeal

2 cups of traditional oats (not quick oats)

2 teaspoons of cinnamon

1 teaspoon of baking powder

1/3 cup of brown sugar

2 cups of milk (I used 1% but you can use skim, Almond, Soy, whatever...)

2 tablespoons of melted butter

2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

1 banana sliced 

1 cup of strawberries divided in half

1/2 cup of semi sweet chocolate chips divided in half

Lightly coat a baking dish (I used a 2 quart corningware baking dish)

In a bowl stir together your oats, cinnamon, baking powder, brown sugar, 1/2 cup of strawberries, 1/2 cup of semi sweet chocolate chips.

In a second bowl whisk together your milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract.

Pour your bowl of dry ingredients into your greased dish.

Next, pour in the remaining halves of strawberries and chocolate chips into the dish and also place in your banana slices.

Take your liquid mixture and pour in.

Refrigerate over night.

The next morning preheat the oven to 375 degrees and bake for 40 minutes.

SO GOOD!

Breaks, Bias, Bucks, Ball & Bad Girls

Five already?  Ok!





1.  Ten Day Weekend

Is that even a term?  Oh yes it is.  I'm off for 10 days.  I'm not complaining but um it would have been nice to have a break like this in February!  Didn't we just get back from Christmas?




2.  Kate Gosselin

As I was making broccoli cheese soup I had my computer turned on to random video clips of the day.  Kate sucks...still.  She is the most annoying camera whore!  I would rather watch Miley run around in half rat costumes and smoking weed than see Kate get another second of air time.  Oh and didn't she and Jackie Chan get a divorce like ages ago?  Why is she still bashing him?  Because he's not parading around trying to get on any piece of film in a fifty thousand mile radius?  Eww she is gross.  Go away.



3.  Old Navy Rewards

Yay, I received a nice surprise and got some Old Navy cash.  Then they sent me an email showing all these adorable spring clothes for me and the kids.  Yeah, I'm over winter.




4.  Tee Ball

Spring is so on the brain.  I've decided to sign up to coach (can you even call it that?) tee ball.  It is so fun and I am kinda used to booger eaters.





5.  Pot Head, MD

I found out on Wednesday that my lady parts doctor got busted for pot.  I am not surprised, I was pretty sure she was a weed eater when I changed over to her.  She fits the hippie bill pretty good.  So of course I posted to FB:  Got to love it when your OB/GYN gets busted for being a pot head.  She rocked for when I needed her.

And she did.

Of course as soon as I posted everybody is commenting wanting to know who she is.

She's my doctor.

I don't smoke reefer and I don't care if she does.  She was an excellent baby deliverer for me and she continues to be a great yearly, feel me up in more ways than one doctor.

So here's the deal....she gave me great care when I needed it and she got caught doing something that well...a lot of people (Not me, stop assuming. All I do is have a controlled love for vodka I am very vanilla...) just haven't been caught doing yet and they also have "prestigious" jobs.

But now I know why she was always so incredibly laid back.  But how does she stay so trim?  I mean damn shouldn't she be wanting like a box of Oreos and Taco Bell after she takes her regularly scheduled doobie?

Saving $ in 2014

On Tuesday I went on a soap box about the movie Her.  

Today I'm going to help you cut costs on your lover...you know...your phone.

The majority of Americans don't have a free cell phone.  We are paying upwards of $200 per month for service for the family and their phone addiction.  Do you remember when you paid $20 a month for a phone you used to make calls on?  Yeah those days are gone now that we have tiny computers to play games, check Facebook, read blogs, send emails, take pictures...ok you get it.

Today a large portion of the budget goes to cell phones and that is a damned shame.

I've had Verizon Wireless for 9 years.  When my husband and I married he became my add a line.  We had been paying $172.00 a month for our service.  I was totally disgusted by that. 

If we do the math:

172 x 12 =  $2064.00 a year

Who else is vomiting in their Cheerio's now?

For two grand I could do so much more awesome stuff than have a stupid phone in my purse.  What about you?

Enter Straight Talk!

Last year my husband switched to Straight Talk.  He purchased a basic smart phone ($80) and the first month's plan ($49 after tax).  His investment = $129.00

Each month he pays $49 and he's good to go for another month of service.

Since he is in no contract he can leave if he wants to with no ramifications.  If his phone is dropped in a toilet or ran over or thrown against the cement its covered and will be replaced because he paid $7 for a protection plan that totally covers his phone.

Let's do our new math:

$49 x 12 = $588

Yes, I too am so happy it brings me to tears...!  You know this baby, Rod Stewart songs by mommy makes him get all emo...Click here to see the baby

Of course I am locked into the Verizon crap for another 8 months.  That blows...

My feelings exactly punch 'em in the face baby Here's where that guy came from...

So if you're not locked into a contract or your contract is about to be up you should look at investing in Straight Talk.  We'v had a good experience with it and good service (its been the same as when he had Verizon, I have heard they ping off Verizon and AT&T towers...)

Save some money...be smart about your cell phone service!

Straight Talk Website

Christmas Toys: Nearly A Month Later

Well Christmas was eons ago.  It feels like that to me.  I remember when I was a kid I would look at the calendar and be like, "Wow Christmas was x weeks ago," now I don't look back and I'm more like, "Wow, Christmas will be here in five minutes."

This year my kids didn't get as much crap as they normally do.  I was pleased.  I'll blame the not too great economy on glorious holiday gifting.

I wanted to high light what my kids are still into nearly a month later.

The big kid -



Her Nook

Well duh.  It provides her an hour of entertainment a day (I limit her, yes I do.  Wipe the shocked look off your face or I'll make you watch Her at your local cinema at your own expense).  She loves that thing and we're also reading some books on it now.  I'm still way more into a book I check out from the library and return after I read it (no cost).


Barbies

She got a few thousand for Christmas.  They still are a classic toy.  The kid takes them everywhere and loves them.











The little kid -

His oversized stuffed monkey

We learned this kid loved jumbo stuffed animals after an evening at a friend's house.  This toy has been the most awesome gift for him because he adores it.  He wrestles, cuddles, and drags it all over the house.  He even prefers to snuggle with it over dad most nights during wind down time.

Plastic play drill

He got this little tool set (a my first style toy) and the nails are ok, the screws egh, the hammer, whatever.  The drill though that thing is awesome.  He normally puts it in his mouth.  Safety first right?

Old School Wooden Blocks

He got two sets and we kept both.  Those things are da bomb.  We all are building with them.  Its family fun...for five minutes and I'm bored.  Shut up its ADHD.




The mom -



My Nook & Jesus Calling Devotional

I enjoy both on the daily.  It just so happens the devo is downloaded on my Nook.



NF Pull Over

My husband bought me a super bright NF Pull Over. (I was always wearing his...it was comfy!)  At first I hated it because I looked like something a boat in distress should shoot into the air to let people know they needed help.

Well, its grown on me and I love it.

Next year I'll take a grey one.