Current Status UPdate

Here's what I am putting on Facebook this morning:

"Flying in a dirty tin can for four hours with a screaming baby and a whiney 3 year old does not make a Happy Thanksgiving."

Yes my perfect children put me right on the edge. Over the edge. Forget it, I went down into a ravine ad never came out. Poor Coco was having ear pressure issues. She NEVER cries and ended up crying and NOT SLEEPING through the whole flight.

Landon is in a very whiney phase and cannot make his mind up about anything. We put on the Cars movie? Five minutes later he wants Mary Poppins. Ten minutes later he wants Nemo. Whine. Whine. Whine.

To top it off, our flight on American to LA from Nashville was the last flight out. You know what that means. The plane had been used 100 times before that day and the supposed "cleaners" had not cleaned the bathroom at all. You try squeezing yourself in a dirty bathroom with a three year old and having him NOT touch the disgusting surfaces. Don't get me started on the floor of the bathroom. OMG.

More on Nashville later when I am in a better mood!
PS The Count Down continues! Eight days until TT!

Tummy Tuck Countdown

Right before I had Landon we had a joke that hubby was trying to steal my thunder. he had to have his appendix out. We lovingly called his little baby Mike. Mike arrived and then Landon came. Heehee.

Well, tummy tuck is in less than 2 weeks and let me tell you, everyone and their mother is asking me when I'm due. It's now become comical. I can always feel it coming, and try to run away before the person puts their foot in their mouth but no. "When are you due?!"

I'm due Dec. 7th, is my new answer. Tummy tuck day! Maybe I'll name the baby too. I mean I have a due date and I'll no longer look pregnant! (unlike real pregnancy when the baby comes out and you still look preggers!). I think I'll call this baby Michaela. Like hubby's baby Mike but the female version.

So Michaela is due Dec. 7th.

Hey, I gotta laugh about it right?

Give me all the tummy tuck advice you've got!

Gift Cards..Waste of Money? Or the perfect Solution?

I have a love/hate relationship with gift cards. This is due to the fact that there are two sides of the Mrs. It's time you knew. I'm an New York/Southerner.

I was born in Raleigh, North Carolina and lived there are few years, and have family there, but I spent most of my life growing up in and around New York. I think it has resulted in a somewhat strange outlook on life.

For example:

I live for monograms, children dressed in smocked clothing, china, silver, spending time with family, scrap booking, thank you notes, real paper invitations and the country.
BUT...
I love the city, I'm a foodie, love the fast paced life and quick wit of New Yorkers, and am a Type A doer. I like to drive fast, get it done, and can be pushy.

You can see how this personality might hate a gift card. "How impersonal? How thoughtless? How tacky!!!"
Or...
Might love one. "How easy! How perfect a solution? Done!"

I had always heard that gift cards were not a good idea to give people because financially it did not make sense. Then I saw this article below. Oh Boy. I think it's just going to be a hate relationship...

"Five reasons to avoid gift cards this holiday season

* by Laura Rowley
If you're thinking about giving gift cards for the holidays, it may be worthwhile to look at the findings of a recent poll by Consumer Reports on holiday shopping. A couple of facts jumped off the page:

1) Most people don't want them: While 46 percent of people plan on buying gift cards, only 15 percent said they want to receive them as gifts.

2) A quarter of people haven't used the ones they got last December: During the 2008 holidays, about half of adults received a gift card, but one in four hadn't redeemed at least one of the cards as of last month.

3) They encourage overspending: Sixty-five percent of adults who received a gift card in 2008 typically spend more than the value of the card, up from 58 percent in 2007.

4) Store-specific cards may limit gift choices: Forty-one percent of those who have unused gift cards from last year said that they hadn't found anything they wanted to buy.

5) Many cards carry fees: Consumers may have to pay an upfront fee to purchase a card, but there are also monthly "inactivity" fees that can slash the value of the card if the recipient doesn't use it within a specific time frame."

What do you think? Do you give gift cards?

Nash-vegas here I come!

We are headed to Nashville to spend Thanksgiving with GrandDad, Mini Moo and Uncle WW2. I have never been to Nashville, but I have taken to calling in Nash-Vegas because I am excited to go!

While there I hope to have many country star sightings although I may not recognize them!!

So where should I go? What should I do? Tell me about Nashville!!

I'm Quirky Like That....

Hubby gets a huge kick out of this, and it is only recently that I can really understand how funny (I mean KOOKOO) I have been about this but, here goes...

Remember this quote from Steel Magnolias from the great Dolly Parton as "Truvy":
"In a good shoe, I wear a size six, but a seven feels so good, I buy a size eight." Well, the opposite is true for me. I used to wear a size 7 shoe because I was a size 8, then I wore a size 8 because I was 8 1/2. Now, I have come to the realization that I am a size 9! What is my problem!

I remember playing lacrosse in high school and my feet would by dying. I thought it was normal for your feet to hurt in your running shoes! Hubby told me when we went shopping for sneakers "What are you doing? You need to get a bigger size!" I was horrified. I do not have a size 9 foot. I am a dainty, petite and feminine 5 foot 9!!!

It's not like I am buying some insane shoe like this:





I just want to wear shoes like this:







I think maybe in my past life I must have been a Chinese woman in the 1800's. I think I was binding my feet so they'd be a size 5.






So that's how I'm quirky. I'm tagging you. How are you quirky? Let me know if you post about it!!!

Time Travelers Wife- One Fab Mom Movie Review!

Let me start with saying the book is better. It's hard to compete with the book and this is a hard story to make into a movie! That being said, I loved the movie. I think Rachel McAdams is fabulous and she just makes me bawl. It also made me fall in love with Eric Bana who before now I could care less about! I could really believe they were in love. Great chemistry!

The movie follows the life of Eric as a time traveler and the love story he has with Rachel McAdams character. It's amazing how everything pieces together to tell the full story, that they have known each other since she was a child. It's also a tragic love story, so a slightly happy ending but not really.

It's a tear jerker, and also a chick flick, so don't think your hubby will give it any attention. This is one to rent when he's out! My hubby liked it quite a bit but he also loved the Notebook. He likes a good love story once in a while. Thank goodness!

I am giving it 4 out of 5 cosmos, because if I hadn't read the book I would have liked it less. It was pretty amazing and beautifully shot. Definitely worth seeing!!!

Veterans Day...Time To Thank The People Who Protect Us

My father was a Marine and served our country, as did both my Grandfathers. I know we have our freedoms because there are people out there willing to risk their lives for it. When I see soldiers walking through the airport I want to hug them, cry and give them all my money.

A Few Good Men was such a great movie. I loved Jack Nicholson's character. Although people make fun of this quote, I think it does illustrate the sometimes ignorant attitude we have towards the military. We have no idea what they go through for us.

"Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Whose gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinburg? I have more responsibility here than you could possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And that my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. I know deep down in places you dont talk about at parties, you don't want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then question the manner in which I provide it. I prefer you said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand to post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to!"

I have The Husband...

Hubby is 39 today. I thought I would tell you about him because, I have that husband.

I have the husband who loves to cook and delights me with fabulous meals.
I have the husband that loves his children so much he almost weeps when he sees them happy.
I have the husband that helps around the house, folds laundry, unloads the dishwasher, cleans up, without being asked.
I have the husband who can fix anything including electrical and plumbing!
I have the husband who is so creative he has ideas almost every day about my scripts, projects we can do, or businesses he'd love to start!
I have the husband who loves to wear a blue blazer, but also loves to go camping.
I have the husband who tells me I am pretty with a permanently pregnant tummy!
I have the husband who loves my Mom and Dad, to the point he'd let them live with us!
I have the husband who loves me in spite of my flaws, and supports my every endeavor.
Yes...
I have that husband.
And I am one lucky lady.

Our Little Family

We went to North Carolina this past weekend to visit my only living grandparent, Landon and Coco's Great Grandma Jenifer. She's 90, has all her marbles (I am telling you it's the cross word puzzles), and is doing pretty well. That being said she's 90! She had never met Coco, and has only met Landon as an infant. I started to imagine how awful I would feel if I didn't make the trip down to Raleigh. What if she passed away before meeting my baby Coco!

So off we went, two planes, cars, trams and trains. I was not looking forward to the journey. You know what? It was amazing. The kids were fine with the time change, and Grandma could barely believe we came to see her.

One thing about doing these trips, you cut off from your work, friends, and are just your little family. Hubby and I talked about our life. Our future plans. It was wonderful. We all camped out in one hotel room and the sweetest moments occurred. Landon was so cute with Coco, they were on the bed together giggling. My heart just melted. Look at our little family. We are so happy. Just the four of us! We are just happy being together!

I love when revelations like this happen. When you realize how blessed you are. My heart is full!

Magic Takes Planning!

Landon's Mimi coming to visit for Halloween was fun, but was made even more enjoyable by a little planning on my part. I tried to think of some firsts that I hadn't done with him yet. What resulted were some fun memories and the cutest pictures!

When the grandparents come to visit, you have to use the time wisely. Make memories!

Landon and Mimi made pizza (a first for Landon), made ice cream sundaes (again a first!), and went to the pumpkin patch and petting zoo.

Mimi is also a painter so I made sure there was a watercolor session!



It's so important to think about what your Mom or Dad can share that they have a passion for. Hubby's Dad (Peepaw) is a train freak so we always go to Travel Town museum to see the old trains for his visits.

What do your kids do with their grandparents? Anything fun you can share?

Hallowee Recap! The Mermaid and NEMO!

It was a fabulous night, and the pumpkin snake was the talk of the neighborhood. Landon really loved Halloween and trick or treating with his girlfriend. Let's just say she looks so much like Tinkerbell she doesn't need the costume!




Coco thought she really was Tinkerbell.



Such a magical night!!!

Halloween Recap!

There are three reasons I haven't posted.

1) Landon's Mimi is here and we are having a GOOOOOOD time!


2) It was Halloween and I was trying to get it together.





and 3)..............


PUMPKIN SNAKE!