H54F: Bye Felicia

Well hello Friday!  And hello weekend!  And hello Georgia!  (High Fivers, whats up?)

Here is my five!

From around my place...

Samuel L. Jackson is moving to my city!  I'm right outside of Winston-Salem and incase you didn't know he announced he's moving here.

Pretty sweet.

You may have heard that NC is cracking down on speeding.  It started a couple days ago (apparently) and the deal is if you are going one mile over the posted limit you get a ticket.  This is a total racket if you ask me.  Let's focus on speeding when we have a major issue with other MAJOR issues.  Nevermind me.  I'm just over here trying to be all common sense.

Nope just one a days.  Back to getting up at 5 to be at the gym by 5:20 and I'm loving it.  I will tell you my morning work out is much harder than my afternoon work out.  Hmmm?

  A good walk...

Wednesday I took my daughter to work with her horse.  The horse was not feeling human companionship so it was a short lived visit.  She wouldn't even let us brush her.  Plan B was to go for a walk.  My girl is growing up - we had a nice walk down the street and through the subdivision beside my mom's house.  It was nice.  My kid didn't complain a bit, we laughed and chatted and had a great time.  Growing up/raising a kid is hard but it is also pretty awesome too!

Candy supreme...

Easter candy is in full force around our house and that is horrible!  Wednesday was the last day my mother-in-law watched my little guy.  She took a full time job that begins on Monday.  We will really be missing her for the remainder of the school year!  Anyway, she had fixed the kids Easter bags of goodies and some extra special toys!  But the coolest part was she had made me a bag too!  Krispy Kreme, Reese's Eggs, Kit Kats, and Starburst....oh my goodness.  Of course I have a major problem with chocolate so as soon as it was in hand I ripped into it.  My dinner on Wednesday may have been a donut, a couple eggs, a Kit Kat, and maybe a Little Debbie butterfly cake.

I work out.

Happy Easter!

This year we're celebrating Easter very differently. I'll have a post on it next week!

To all of you and your's I wish you an amazing weekend.  I hope you are filled joy and love and acknowledge the insurmountable grace that surrounds you with each breath you take in each space you find yourself in during this journey.

I am an Easter person.  Peace be with you!

****

Sunday Starts my new Sunday post in place of menus!  It will be a hodge podge of something I want to blog about.  This week it was the beginning of Spring!

Cleaning: Wrapped Up This week I posted my last cleaning post for a while!  Enjoy the final tips I compiled.  I'm sure I will have more cleaning posts over the summer.

The Soundtrack of my Life I joined this link up because I read Katie's post and was like this is so me!

Yay or Nay: Meet Molly  This week I introduce you to my daughter's new buddy - she's 800lbs and teaching us all sorts of lessons.

I'm a pre-vacation nutjob, hi!  A post celebrating the beginning of travel and vacation season!  From a planning girl's perspective - it is what I go through (every.single.time.)

I'm a pre-vacation nut job, hi!

Vacation season is right upon us.  I know many of you are disappearing from your regular postal code for the holiday weekend and or Spring Break.

Spring Vacation 2013!

If there is anything that hold true for me it is that I love to get out of Dodge as much as possible.  I am really one of those people who would gladly give up shopping to travel more.  Once upon a time I read an awesome article about couples and families who stopped gift giving and birthday parties to have more money to go on trips and vacations.  I fell in love with that idea.  However, I'm very traditional so the thought of no birthday party (though ours are very basic) kind of made my mommy heart hurt.

Spring Vacation 2014

Each year we average three vacations.  Two without our kids and one with the kids.  The two without the kids are generally just weekend trips.  Our big family trip is around seven days and at the coast.  I live for our get-a-ways both with and without the kids.

However, the days leading up to the trip are a little bit of torture for my soul.

I can readily admit I do have some major obsessive compulsive tendencies when a vacation is around the corner.

Summer weekend trip 2015

My list making goes into full tilt.

I am the queen, duchess, and first lady of list making.  I make lists of lists I need to make.  Yes, it is a bit out of control!  Honestly, if I sit down to make a list I will need at least six sheets of paper because I can guarantee the list I sit down to write will spawn at least two more lists.

The lists I create:

Packing

Day before to do

Shopping

Cleaning

Day of

Packing List -I write out every single stitch of clothing we will need, toiletries, linens if necessary, the kids' items they "must have" (my daughter cannot function without Moo Moo a stuffed animal she has had since birth, chargers for the electronic devices, books, etc.

Day before trip to do - This list is for things I need to do outside the home.  Do I need to get gas?  Clean out the car at the car wash?  Get a headlight light (haha that is on my to do list today)?  Pick up dog food?  Go to the post office or library?  Pay any bills in person?  Get gas?  OK you get it.  I have this nice little list in my car so I can mark out things as I do them around town.

Shopping list 1 - I have a shopping trip prior to the trip to get snacks for the ride down.  I also buy things that are cheaper here than in the location we're going to.  Remember marketing in different areas also can create a price hike! 

Cleaning list - I do not know about you but I cannot leave my house messy or cluttered.  I have to clean it and I mean clean it before a trip.  Yes, I vacuum and dust and mop and scrub toilets.  The whole idea is when I get back home I want my house to be fresh and clean so all I have to do is some laundry. 

Day of list - The day we leave I also have a list.  It is generally two columns - column one is strictly for things I need to make sure I have packed last minute (phone chargers, tooth brushes, face wash, etc.)  Column two is for things I need to have out for our dog and whoever is caring for her while we're away, other slight house things like making sure the toilets are flushed (do that people), stuff is unplugged (especially if it is thunderstorm season), turning down the thermostat, etc.  All the things you do before you head out has it's very own list.

Shopping list 2 - This is for the big family trip as I do not really ever do this on a couple's trip (because I don't cook on those!)  Since we rent a house or condo for our big beach trip I always cook and clean so I buy my supplies for the week while we're on vacation.

Now the crazy part?

I hate itineries for trips.

A walking contradiction, yep!

Happy vacation season!  If you suffer from OCD like me I have found a helpful anecdote - it is from Russia and goes by the name Absolut (bahahaha, truth!)

Happy travels!

Yay or Nay: Meet Molly

Valentine's Weekend my daughter was informed she was getting a horse from her "Pappaw" - that's the person known as my dad.


She waited patiently while the fencing was fixed over at her Nana's house so the horse would have a place to safely live.


She waited 5 weeks.  Patiently.  I was impressed!


Molly, a plain-Jane-run-of-the-mill trail riding horse came to live with us on March 16th. 





A generally sweet horse - she has some true nay and yay points about her.


For all you horse dreamers I thought this post would be best for you.  For my horse lovers and enthusiast readers maybe you can shed some light.  For those of you who only see horses in movies in magazines then, hey how are you and please keep reading!


A few things you should know -


I am not a horse person.


Growing up I was around horses.  My dad had two - Shotgun and Lassiter.  When I was eight years old I got my first horse, a pony actually, named Cody.  I rode Cody a handful of times and Cody wasn't fond of being ridden.  Cody threw me off eventually and Cody got a new home down the road.


I love animals and that is pretty clear for most people. 


Did I ever think my kids would have a horses?  No.


I could see us having a few goats, maybe a cow or two, chickens for sure, and plenty of doggies (my heart!) but a horse?  No way.


Ha, funny. 


Growing up changes your perspective.


I remember when I was kid my dad would put me up on his horses and I would ride around with him.  When I was in high school I clearly remember going horseback riding with friends.  And to be honest thinking back on that I never had any fear of riding on a horse.


Now...well..


Let me just tell you when I see my eight year old daughter get on the back of the horse - I go into total fear mode.  My heart starts to speed up, my vision sharpens, my respirations increase, and I'm ready to run or leap from barn to barn to save the day.  Fight or flight to a level of perfection!


Maybe I realize now just how big that animal is (800 pounds roughly) and how one fright can send my baby girl air bound and then to the ground with some force.


Or maybe I realize the force in a kick more than I did at 16 years old.


Or maybe I'm just a straight up mama bear.


Molly has some issues too.


This sweet horse has her own set of problems.  She is head shy and ear shy - mainly ear shy.  Because of this getting a bit and bridal on her is an Olympic event.  I have not even tried because she is so bent against anyone touching head.


If you need to know the importance of a bit then let me put it to you this way:

A bit to a horse is like brakes to a car.

Would you drive a car with no brakes?  No.

The bit aids you in stopping your horse.

I am making it my goal to build trust with her.  I don't prefer my child on her without the horse being bridled with the bit in place (can someone explain that to my dad?)  Personally, I want this time to be spent forming a bond that tells her she's safe and we're good.  Lots of rubs and brushing and treats. 


Over the past weekend I happened to  noticed that she is easily "spooked" and that makes me uneasy.  Sometimes it is just a shadow that gets her and sometimes it is something she hears.  So here I am on my war path to help the horse calm down a little just so my little girl can eventually take her for a ride.


Let's give the girl a break though.  She's only been with us for a week.  She needs to adjust.


This is a true learning experience.


Last night my daughter went out with her Pappaw to care for the horse.  I did not go.  Unfortunately, it wasn't the best of trips.  He put her on Molly and let her ride without him guiding her.


You can imagine what happened next.


She didn't walk but went up to a trot (I imagine) and my daughter fell off.


I didn't handle this news very well but I let some grace come over me.  I forced a smile as my daughter told me about falling off the horse.  I didn't ask many questions and told her falling off was part of learning.


Then she cried.


She did not cry over the fall but over the way her grandfather had spoke to her regarding the fall.  It is something in nearly all my childhood memories.  Bad words, bad choices, bad feelings.


This experience will not get the best of my daughter.


I gave myself some time to simmer down and then I had a conversation with my girl.  We talked about falling off the horse and how it hurt.  Then I told her that just like riding a bike you have to be extra careful.  I was careful in my words to not scare her. 


Then I asked the golden question -


"Since you know falling off is part of it are you still wanting to learn to ride?"


There was no hesitation at all she looked right in my eyes and said, "I want to learn how to ride, mama.  I don't want to stop."

With my mom in the  pasture.

I may not be a horse person but I'm not going to stop my kid from learning. 


My job is to be a positive force in her life at all times.  I was willed her to keep her safe and love her and grow her into a good, valuable piece of society's puzzle. 


She will not ever think she isn't good enough to do something because of someone in her ear telling her things that make her feel second fiddle or two inches tall.


She will grow up empowered and strong and knowing she can do whatever she believes in.


So mama did her research and mama got her baby girl some professional lessons and forms for horse riding camp.


Who would have thought that a horse would make you a stronger mom?

Soundtrack of my life

I don't normally take part in this little link up thing-a-ma-jig but today I thought I would.  (Yes, I'm in a blogging slump.)


While reading Katie's awesome post I thought - man I should compile the songs that made me.


So here goes it...




Early Childhood


Mind you my parents were young when they had me in 1981 so I have a very varied musical history.


I remember jamming out to Billy Ocean's Get Out of my Dreams









I also can remember dancing around my aunt and uncle's garage to this tune with my cousins...









My mom was a huge Reba fan so that is probably where my love for Reba comes from. This Reba song reminds me of my mom.  She had me young (high school) and worked her way through getting a GED, associates degree, bachelor's degree, and master's degree, oh and getting Nation Board Certified.









Of course no one tops my Dolly - she is my end all be all for music.









The songs of my middle childhood are best described as...




Randy Travis - I can still remember Scott W. in elementary school wearing that Carolina Blue RT t-shirt with the state of NC outlined and Travis's face in the center.  Haha we love our homeboys.




New Kids On The Block - We were all crushing over one of the boys - I liked Joe!  I remember having a yard sale to buy tickets to go to their concert.  I was seven years old, I made the money, we went to the concert and as soon as Perfect Gentlemen took the stage I was so sick with a stomach virus we had to leave.  I never got to see NKOTB.




Garth -  Any child of the late 80's and early 90's is a Garth child.  Whether you smile when you hear:

Blame it all on my roots/I showed up in boots/And ruined your black tie affair

Or belting out Shameless and sliding across the basement floor on your knees, Garth was a defining musician for a special time in my life.




LL Cool J is another one I remember - probably my entry way to listening to rap music.  But it was this song that I remember most...









I was in youth group and this album had came out.  We all snuck out to the parking lot to one of the 16 year old's cars and listened to Regulate.  Ha!  I remember it like it was yesterday - a bunch of middle class white rural kids at church sneaking out to listen to rap.


Classic.






My middle school years were filled with a new band called Green Day and their first release - Dookie.  Only.in.middle.school.


And we cannot forget Weezer.  The band for all people.


I had plenty of Nirvana love too and my Nirvana t-shirt was a prized possession. 


But it was Pearl Jam that I loved the most.









High school


 I still loved the music from my past but now I was into more hard core, I'm mad at the world, let me scream music.  Yes, cue the Korn and Rage and the Tool.


But I also was listening to this band called The Dixie Chicks.  And on the weekends friends and I were going to a karaoke bar and belting out songs for Cowboys to take us away.









Speed up to college...


And enter the love for sounds out of Austin, Texas and little places in between.  If I heard Drivin' & Cryin's Straight to Hell once I heard it five billion times.  Robert Earl Keen Jr was blowing up our speakers as was any country music made between 1940 and 2000.  Reckless Kelly...yes I belt you out!









I remember Dierks Bentley concerts in little bars and shag dancing to The Chairman of the Board.  Going to big farms to hear little bands that thought they were super stars. 


Things changed uber fast in college as did the music we were listening to.


More Fifty Cent, Yin Yang Twins, and music we could sweat to.  The Killers were one of my favorite non hip hop bands then.  I blasted them in my shades, driving down Market Street.









When life changed again I was listening to some new guy that was consistently playing clubs around the areas I stayed in.  His name was Jason Aldean.









Then one year I met a boy and that was the year all I listened to was some good ole JT.  There is no correlation between the boy and the JT music but I think it is funny that that is all I was listening to in the car.









Later on that boy and I would get hitched.  Then we would have a couple of kids.


The day we drove to the hospital for our baby girl to be born this song was the last song I heard before getting out of the car.







Now my life is filled with all these and more.  I tend to go to the old school music over the new stuff.  I work out to Eminem from back in the day.  When I'm cleaning it is to 80's music.  If we're sitting out by the bonfire then we all start singing old school music from years before we were even around.


And I have an eight year old who is all about music now.  Taylor Swift, Katie Perry, and she even is singing along to some of the stuff her old mom puts on in the car.  Watch out!


Music is the tie that binds us and it is an important part of who we are.  This was fun today.


What song makes you?

Cleaning: Wrapping it Up

For roughly a month and some change I have writing cleaning posts and sharing them each Monday.  We've discussed cleaners, cleaning fads, decluttering, basics to the annual big cleaning events (i.e. spring/fall), and cleaning floors, walls, and windows.

Today I'm going to work on wrapping up the cleaning posts.  I'm sharing a few more tips for those of you who are deep cleaning challenged.  Hey, its cool you guys exist!  That lets people like me have a good side hustle!

Blinds & Curtains
These are both hideous dist collectors.  Once a year, at the bare minimum you should clean your curtains.  Some of you can just toss them in the wash on gentle and others will need to cart them to your local dry cleaners.  If you have allergy issues make sure you get your curtains and drapes cleaned.  They are fabric and fabric has a big nasty love affair with dust and dust mites.

Blinds are such a task.  If you have plantation style blinds, vertical blinds, or any other large blind then you need to clean them now.  My secret is a Swiffer Duster - dust horizontally and vertically then a damp (not wet) cloth.  Go from one blind to the next.  You may have to do this several times if you have failed to clean your blinds before reading this.

Mini blinds are hell.  If you have mini blinds in your house I suggest you just tear them down and burn them.  Oops a little slip there.  You can dust them and clean them but if they are a certain age they will probably break.  If they aren't that old they may still break.  If they do not break they will bend and look horrible.  Evaluate the mini blinds - if they are discolored and have a large amount of build up on them you decide if you want to clean them or replace them.  The good news is they are cheap so you can replace them for a very minimal expense.

I have tried to clean mini blinds in the bath tub - that was a disaster.

I have did the outside cleaning with soapy water and a water hose - yuck.

I'm very anti mini blind.

Moving on..

Light fixtures & Shades
Listen closely - you do not have to take all the light fixtures apart and wash them.  Today, you will notice most light fixtures are very open and basic.  The style of the times is simplistic so we should all celebrate.  Get a step stool or two step ladder, some non ammonia glass cleaner, and paper towels and go at it.

If you have a lamp globes that have harvested dead bugs then yeah - you better take them down and clean them the old fashioned way.

Lamp Shades are the forgotten piece of the puzzle.  These things hold so much dust.  Hit them up with a dry rag.

Cabinet & Drawer Interiors
We cleaned the exteriors weeks ago and I realize I failed you on the interior.  Over the course of the winter I'm sure you got a little crumby inside those spaces in your kitchen. Your underwear drawer may have some tags or those obnoxious plastic strings that keep tags on clothing.  Make sure you take time to vacuum the inside of cabinets and drawers in your home.

Misc. Cleaning Helpers
Disinfect your trash cans.  A bit of bleach water and sunshine can take care of the bottom of the bins.
Clean your air exchanges.  These are dust city for most of us.  Remember to clean the filters or replace them.  Also wipe down the grates!
Appliances need cleaning too! Clean your dishwasher and make sure you get around the seals.  This is a breeding ground for bacteria - warmth plus water plus food residue is the recipe for germs.  Get your coffee pot all nice and clean with a mix of vinegar and water.  Hand wash the carafe to remove build up.  Be sure to get the baskets clean too!  You'll have the best cup of coffee ever after you do this simple cleaning.  Remember the microwave!  If you use a toaster be sure to clean the tray and shake excess crumbs out.
Use the hose of your vacuum to clean out the dryer lent vent.  This is important!  Keep it clean or you run the risk of a fire.
Clean your washing machine.  This is simple - you can buy an overpriced product to do it or you can run an empty washer with bleach or vinegar.
Vacuum your mattresses!

Happy cleaning!  Oh and happy Monday!!!

Sunday Starts - Spring!

Ooooh joy I am very excited!  So extremely excited!  Today is the official start to spring and my heart is dancing with elation.

Nevermind it is going to be very cold today and gross out.  The point is this...

Spring is really (like the poets say) a promise.

The promise that after months of cold and darkness; light and warmth will be back.

The promise that death will result in immaculate, abounding color.

The promise of new songs from budding tree branches.

Spring is a big promise that every year elates me like none other.

There are so many parallels to this time of year and who I am.  

I am a warm weather girl.  Tank tops and flip flops with hands in the dirt and jumping into water.

I am a lover of this life - and the promise made that after this one - the grave is nothing.  Easter is celebrated in the spring for a reason - the promise that though this life may be a hard journey and highly questionable at times if we keep that faith and hold His promise - there is beauty and new life awaiting.

Yes, I am celebrating this day on the equinox calendar.  Today I am reborn for multiple reasons.  Today I am excited about everything that lies ahead.  I feel lighter and relaxed.

It is spring.

Saturday 6!

And poof!  I reappear!

I kind of took the rest of the week off after Wednesday.  It feels really weird to not be writing up posts and even more strange to not really get near my computer.  But it also feels really good!

By not posting here I have upped my IG game a little more so that is awesome, right?

Well here's my Saturday 6 - things from the week that I failed to share yesterday with a High Five post.  And of course all the other little goodies I love to throw in on my typical Friday posts too.

1.  Elementary Bye Byes

via GIPHY
I finished up a stint in elementary school this past week.  Can I just say I really had a sweet group of kids to work with.  Of course going out in high style - I broke the stupid pencil sharpener on my last day and a first grade room without a pencil sharpener is pure chaos.  I will be purchasing the teacher a new one this weekend.

2.  Gorgeous Weather

via GIPHY
Spring may not officially start until tomorrow but y'all it has been AMAZING this week.  Highs up near 80 degrees, sunshine beyond comprehension, plus the longer days?!?!  I have been in hog heaven.  Of course today it is cold (the high is 54 I think) and raining (boo!)  We have a taste of winter today through Monday and then they promise the warm weather to return.  All I have to say is it better.

3.  A girl's best friend...


This week I got my hair did - bye bye gray roots!  I was so happy to go sit in Lizz's chair and get my folical makeover.  I also have been doing some major second hand shopping lately and scored a new purse - NWT - from Goodwill.  I loved it at Target and now they have shipped them to Goodwill!  So yes, I scored this bag for $6.  I was afraid it wasn't springy enough but hell teal is good all the time, right?  I'll have a post of more second hand finds coming up on the blog.

4.  Eww gross

via GIPHY
Well I have retired from ever eating at Sonic again.  Wednesday night they had $1 hot dogs.  For me that translated to $1 sickness.  At first I thought my work out had caught up to me (extra weight training plus extra cardio) then I thought that my post work out tag in the pasture had really did me in.  Around 3am I realized it was my really bad meal choice - a hot dog and tots (the worst meal I have had in a few weeks).  It did not digest - and at 3am I had to pep talk myself into forcing it out of me in a violent and totally wrong way - puking.  This girl hates to puke.  You just have to recognize the situation - and maybe you have been there - you're so uncomfortable because you feel that food sitting too high in the GI tract.  You know if you just let it out you'll feel better so quickly.  But no you hate the idea of getting personal with ole TB.  Finally you say screw it and go to the bathroom - walk of shame style - close your eyes, say a prayer, and stick the finger down the back of your throat.  UGHHHHHH!  It was immediate relief but I spent Thursday feeling like I had been ran over by that proverbial train.

5.  Back in the saddle!



Not me.  My daughter's horse, Molly, arrived on Thursday.  I need to write a horse post so you know my exact feelings on this.  My child is super excited and she got right on this beast and enjoyed "riding" (aka being led around the pasture).  Issues with this horse:  she will not wear a bit and she goes ape shit if you touch her ears.  We're wondering if someone was mean to her in years past.  With that being said she is very sweet and so far is very gentle with my daughter.  You can tell she is used to trail rides because of her sweet relaxed disposition when being saddled and mounted.  So yay, I guess.

6.  Best friend time

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On Friday I went up to my bestie's house.  We had a great time stuffing our faces with fajitas and chatting.  I would say we did some crafting but seriously we did not.  The idea hit us that we should start project life next year and that we will get up each month to work on it.  Our next get together will be our girl's trip!!!  So freakin' stoked!

That's it.  That's all.  I hope you guys have a great weekend.  Promise to see you more this next week!