After 20 years.....

Did you ever have a GREAT friend in high school only to loose touch with them? Of course it has happened to all of us. That friend who you did CRAZY stuff with like driving down the road in your bras? That friend that you went dancing with at a cheesy teen night club thinking you were the coolest ones there? That friend who you drank and did other unmentionables with? That friend that no matter how many years have gone by with one email it is like time never passed?

Well I have that friend, Jenn. I cannot for the life of me remember why we lost touch or even how but I am so happy that we reconnected. I don't talk to many people I went to school with, why? I just don't care about them, sounds harsh but it is true. Now I can say I talk to 3 people I went to school with. 3 you say? yep only 3!!

I had friends in high school, plenty of them. Good friends who I thought I would always be friends with but today wonder where they are and how they are doing. I went to a super small high school in Connecticut it was grades 7-12. A regional school consisting of 3 small towns, I was one of 66 in my graduating class. I know that is so small. So small that if you farted in gym class everyone knew in 10 minutes, seriously.

Jenn sent me a message via classmates.com, what would we do without the Internet? First I would not be on here blogging that's for sure and I would have never touched base with an old friend. I LOVE THE INTERNET!!

So thank you Internet and classmates.com! And Jenn thank you for sending that first message I can't tell you how happy I am that we reconnected, have a blast a Cruefest and I hope you get back stage. If you do which I know you will DO NOT PASS OUT!!! Or do, maybe Nikki will give you mouth to mouth! Now that would be a great blog post!

Check this contest out!

Another week and another giveaway/contest from the lovely SITS girls. Last week they were giving away a back yard jump house. This week it is a super cute genuine Brighton handbag. Want to enter? Just go on over to SITS and do so! Never heard of SITS? That is more of a reason to go check them out!!! If you do and like what you see, join and then tell them I sent you thier way!

Friday Foto Finish Fiesta

Once again it is time for Friday Foto Finish Fiesta. The brain child of my dear friend Candid Carrie. If you are up for playing the rules are so easy. Post a Foto saying why it is one of your phavorites and then hop on over to Candid Carrie and tell her you are playing! Simple as that, now get going and do it!

This is my niece. I have this picture hanging in my cubicle at work and everyone who sees it just cracks up and says "If I didn't know better I would say that is your daughter, she looks like you and obviously she has your attitude"

Flavor Flav is to Public Enemy what Bobby J is to Rockwurst

When some of you saw the video clip of my hubby singing you were more focused on my BIL Bobby who was in the frame of the video for a split second. I know how could you not be?

I have to admit he is a hoot and I love him to death. The band thinks he is so funny and awesome that they now call him their hype man just like Flavor Flav of Public Enemy with out the big ass clock, I suggested a cow bell.

The recording is not that good, the sound is funny, I think it was the wind. The other guy in the clip is my hubby's uncle and the gal is my SIL, the wife of Mr Hypeman!

Enjoy!

FYI I did have his permission to post the video.

You can do it by yourself

My almost 5 year old, he will be 5 on the 29th of June, was on the potty when he called me in the bathroom

Seth"Mom I need you to wipe my butt"

Me "You can wipe your own butt, you have been doing it by yourself just fine"

Seth "Well.. I wipe too fast and it goes on my back"

Me "What did you say?"

Seth "I WIPE TOO FAST AND IT GOES ON MY BACK"

What to do with the kids?????

The brains and beauty behind Bottles, Barbies and Boys is changeling us as moms to post about our fun summer tips and tricks. Here is mine....

Turn on the sprinkler and run run run thru it! Yes I know not very green but...if you strategically move the sprinkler around the yard you can do double duty entertain the children and water your lawn and plants!

We also STOCK UP on bubbles and side walk chalk. in fact they boys are so digging the 3D sidewalk chalk. It is the glasses not the chalk that makes the magic happen.

And on those rainy days, and we have had alot this year we do movie PJ day! Watch movies eat junk food and stay in out PJ's, unless I have to work. don't think I can show houses in my jammies!

Tuesday's Green Tip

It is Tuesday and that means it is time my for Green Tip.

Today I am going to highlight the absolute coolest diaper bag I have EVER seen. What makes this so great AND green you ask? It is made out of 100% post consumer recycled plastic bottles and is PVC free plus 100% of the proceeds will be donated to Healthy Child Healthy World. How cool is that? Very cool in my book!

The folks at Seventh Generation have just launched the Wee Generation eco-diaper bag . This bag is awesome.It is not your typical diaper bag. It is super hip and trendy coming in several patterns that even Dad would have not problem carrying it. There are removable inserts that include an insulated feeding tote, changing tote and changing pad PLUS tons of pockets to keep all of babies belongings organized.

Now here is the coolest part. I am having a contest, a giveaway, now how fun is that?

To celebrate the launch of this super cool diaper bag my new friend Meghan from the GCI group is donating a Seventh generation Natural Baby Starter Kit. This is everything new parents or parents to be will need to help create a natural healthy lifestyle for their beautiful little bundles of joy all tucked in a handy tote.

Here are the rules.

Of course you will need to comment but this is a green tip post so I want you to post a green tip.

The winner will be chosen by random, I think that would be the fairest way to handle my first contest/giveaway.

The winner will be announced on next Tuesday's Green Tip.

Until next Tuesday.....stay Green

UPDATE: The contest is for the SeventhGenerationNatural Baby Starter Kit NOT the diaper bag, sorry for any confusion

The BEST rock band EVER!!!

I had front row seats for the private performance of the BEST rock band EVER!!! OK so I am being totally biased when I say that.

My hubby is the lead signer in a rock band, Rockwurst, a play on Rock and Bratwurst. Bratwurst? Folks I live in the bratwurst capital of the world do not laugh! This is serious stuff. The band is made up of Dr's, a lawyer, a REALTOR and my hubby an IT guy.

This past weekend they played at my niece Beckie's college graduation party. Here is a short video clip of them. The video is not the best as it was taken with my camera not my video camera .

The guy who comes into the video is my bro in law, who in celebration of his daughters graduation a few too many Miller Lites!

Check out this AWESOME contest

My SITSta's over at SITS are having another cool contest to celebrate six weeks of summer!This has to be the best one so far! My kids NEED this!

If you have not heard of SITS then you are so missing out! Really you are!

Two blog mom's Heather and Tiffany started a blog for blogging woman. A community where you can get great exposure for your blog!

You see that super cool pink and leopard banner to your right? Yep right there, up a little bit. There you go!

After you are done reading this post go there and snoop around. I can guarantee you will like what you see!

Friday Foto Finish!

Friday again!? Yes ineded it is, so it is time for Friday Foto Finish Fiesta. If you have never played then you have been missing out. Here are the rules. Post a Foto and then hop on over to Candid Carrie and tell her you are playing this week.

This Foto was taken 3 years ago at a friends pool.

>

Natural Sunlight

A conversation with my hubby on Fathers Day Morning. We were going to a friends pool and I could not find my swim suit.

Me "Honey, have you seen my bathing suit"
Like I actually thought he knew where it was.

Hubby "No"
Of course, stupid to even ask.

Me "Well this bites, I guess I will wear a tank top and shorts. I am glad it is not super hot out"
I was not very happy. I knew it would be hot by our friends cement surrounded in ground pool with no shade.

Hubby "We aren't leaving for an hour. Why don't you go and buy a new one"
Is he telling me to go shopping?

Me "Oh honey an hour? That is not enough time to find a suit. Sometimes it takes weeks and several stores before the perfect one is found. Plus I do not want to ruin your Fathers Day"
An hour? He is so friggin funny.

Hubby" How would it ruin my Fathers Day?"
I hate swim suit shopping and it will make me VERY crabby, duh!

Me "Well...it's hard for you to understand, your a man. But swim suit shopping is the WORST thing a woman can go shopping for. First the lights are fluorescent and UGH make you look like 50 pounds more then you actually are. Then there is the being fish belly white under the lights. Plus you have to leave your grundies on when you try a suit on. It is just the WORST. The visual is making me crabby. I'm telling you best stay the hell away from me on swim suit shopping day, I will not be happy"
I guess if maybe you just lost like a 100 lbs and now had a hot body and a nice tan maybe you would look forward to swim suit shopping.

Hubby "Well aren't florescent lights suppose to simulate real light?"
Did he just say that?

Me SPEECHLESS!!!

Tuesday's Green Tip

Tuesday again? Well time for the Tuesday Green tip from me.

Today's tip is in response to one of my earlier posts regarding the use of cloth bags. (I know! I promised I would not post about my bags again but...) The question Candid Carrie had was if you do not use plastic bags at the grocery store then what do you use to throw out the cat littler?

Well Carrie here is your answer. Bio Bags. They are the first dog and cat poop bags that are 100% biodegradable. I have not used the bags because I do not have a cat or a dog, just trying to help Carrie be a bit more green.

Until next Tuesday...stay Green

Plant a Baby Seed!!!

I often wonder what the heck goes on in the mind of my children. What makes them tick.

After reading a bedtime story to Seth last week he asked if I could stay and cuddle and talk. he has never asked to talk before, I was intrigued so I cuddled and asked him what he wanted to talk about.

Seth "We should have another baby"

Me "Well sweetie we have you and Tony and that is enough for us"

Seth "I want a baby sister" Aww sweet huh?

Me "A sister? Why a sister and not another brother?"

Seth "I could watch Angelina Ballerina with her"

Me "You don't need a sister to watch Angelina Ballerina"

Seth "You should get a baby seed and put it in your belly button"

Me "A What? Baby seed?"

Seth "Yep, that is how babies are made, you put the seed in a mommy's belly button and it grows in her tummy, like me and Tony did"

Me "Where so a get a baby seed from?"

Seth "Wal Mart"

Me "I am sorry but you can't get baby seeds from Wal Mart"

Seth "OK then maybe Target"

Friday Foto Finish Fiesta!

Yippee! It's Friday and you know what that means...it is time for Friday Foto Finish Fiesta! Just go over to Candid Carrie and tell her you are playing this week!

I love this picture. When I asked him where the markers were his response was "What markers?"

Tuesday's Green Tip

Well it's Tuesday, so it must be time for Tuesday's green tip.

Today it is toiletries; shampoo, conditioner and body wash.

I was a "I will only buy my shampoo from the salon kind of girl" until I decided to go green this year.

I did research on shampoos and body washes, what I found concerned me enough to switch to natural shampoo, conditioner and Body wash. SLS (Sodium lauryl sulfate) is a known carcinogen and is in almost all shampoos, soaps and other stuff that foams. It is what makes it foam. Read here to learn more about the dangers.

I have only tried one brand of shampoo and conditioner. I have thick wavy hair and I need thick conditioner. I research and researched and based on customer reviews I decided to try BWC (Beauty Without Cruelty) Moisture plus shampoo and conditioner. I love it! My hubby has some scalp issues and I convinced him to try the BWC and guess what? No more scalp issues at all!! This has been an issue for years and nothing really helped except this shampoo. Wonder if it was the SLS?

Tony uses the BWC but Seth prefers the Jason Kids only shampoo. He likes the way it smells and it has a monkey on the bottle which of course is the most important thing about it.

For body wash we use the Jason Satin Shower Body Wash Lavender scent. We have used Kiss my Face in the past but the Jason is less expensive and we all like it better.

I buy all of it online at vitacost.com. I place an order with them every other month for a bunch of stuff, their prices are AWESOME and shipping is cheap. I know it is not very green to order on line, it takes gas to deliver, but I place a LARGE order and it makes more sense to me. Plus I would have to drive all over to find the items and use how much gas?

Until next Tuesday, stay Green

Look what I got!!!!

Oh how I just LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE my dear, sweet, handsome, caring and patient husband.

Look around my peeps he gave me a blog make over! I love it! There are a few things I am going to have him tweak but what do you think? If you have any suggestions I am open, but for now it is off the thank my hubby! ;)

Melt my heart

Please don't be jealous, I know he's a cutie but you must understand he is NOT always this adorable.

But this video makes me ALMOST forget all the crazy stuff he does and says.
This is a new song he has been singing to me. Hard to believe he can be such a little snot goblin with a smile like that.

The first time he sang this to me I almost cried it was so cute!

Why I need/deserive a Blog make over!

Peeps look around my blog is ugly/boring/quiet/not pretty/not fancy so I NEED a makeover!
There is a contest going on RIGHT NOW that I am going to win. My new best friends at SITS are sponsoring the contest. Go to Eight Crazy designs and see how to enter.

You can enter to but honestly don't because I AM GOING TO WIN! OK so that is not fair, go ahead enter but I bet I need it more then you do!

Now for why I really need the blog make over. Oh I said that already...how about this. My hubby is a computer dude. He has offered to do it for me but his way, meaning he will design it and I get what I get! WHAT? Yeah I guess that is his way of kindly saying "Honey I really don't have time for your blog.Now if you want to work on your Real Estate web site and getting you ranked I'm in"

You see work is actually more important then my blog, yeah crazy huh?

I was under the impresion that he would be mad if I went else where. Kind of like when I metioned That Century21 has a very cool web site builder. He said " How would you like it if I told friends to go elsewhere when they sell their home?"

OK point taken.

I have UNSUCCESSFULLY tired to make it "my own" but I am a REALTOR not a Web Developer. Guess there is a big difference! Asked hubby to show me, he rolled his eyes, do you suppose that means no? I thought so too. I am a quick learner but I guess he is not a teacher? Or doesn't have the patience for my 50 Million questions BLAH BLAH BLAH! Just show me!!!! NO!!
So here I sit with an ugly/boring/quiet/not pretty/not fancy blog! Poor me.

Thank you so much for you sympathy.

I survived SITS day!

WOW! WOW! WOW! Is all I have to say about my day yesterday after being featured blogger on The Secret is in the Sauce gals! When I got the email saying that it was my turn to be featured I was so excited I piddled my undies a little bit. What an honor!

It was so over whelming! I would like to thank the FABULOUS gals over at SITS for giving ME the opportunity to shine. It felt great to be popular for a day!

I have responded to a few of you who commented and have read your blogs. My intent is to visit everyone who visited me but it is going to take a few days.

If you are reading this and are "like what the hell is she talking about" then you MUST MUST go to this web site and check it out! It is fun fun and more fun for all!

Again thanks to EVERYONE you all ROCK!!!!!!

Friday Foto Finish Fiesta!

WOW! It's Friday again and you know what that means...It's time for Friday's Foto Finish Fiesta. never played her what's you do. You find a great Foto and tell why it is a great Foto. Then go visit my friend Candid Carrie and tell her you are playing along!

This has got to be one of my favorites. No front teeth! I remember it took forever for those teeth to grow back in.

Little Bro, Happy Birthday

I missed my brother's birthday, I am a horrible sister! I still have not called him. I am not mad at him, I love him and I miss him, I have not seen him or his family in 2 years.

He is in the start of a coast to coast move with 2 young childern , job related. He is an officer in the Coast Guard and is quite serious at times. I am so proud of his accomplishments, I should tell him that more often.

Growing up he was a little spit fire! Always getting in to things and playing with things that a child should not play with for example, fire. He got onto minor trouble as a teen.

In honor of my little brother I am going to share a story, one that just makes me giggle every time I think of it.

I can't remember what year it was 1987 or 1988 that would have made little bro 12 or 13. Old enough to know better.

We lived in Connecticut on quite a big lot of land. Huge yard so of course my Dad had a riding lawn mower.

Our mower was being repaired and the Goshen Tractor shop had given us a loaner. When our mower was fixed they left the loaner. I still to this day can't figure out why but that's what they did.

Little Bro had a good friend over. One he has gotten into trouble with. Once they were paying catch in our kitchen with an apple of all things and they broke the kitchen light. When they were older little Bro was at his friends house drinking and slammed some Rum and then chased it down with milk. YUCK! Yes he got very sick. In grade school the had to be seperated because if they looked a t echother they would giggle.

OK, back to the story. So little bro and his friend decided it would be a GREAT idea to race the two lawn mowers around our hilly yard. Yes our now fixed lawnmower and the loaner that was not ours, obviously it was the loaner.

My parents were at work, I was home out on the deck yelling at them.

"Dad is going to kick your ass if you break one of those"

I think he replied with the middle finger, nice huh?

Then all of a sudden crash and a HUGH plume of black smoke. Little bro had flipped our just fixed, just dropped off lawn mower and boy was it messed up.

Me
"Dad is SO going to kick your ass"

Him
"Oh crap, oh no I am in deep shit"

Friend
"Oh dude, holy crap you are in so much trouble"

M
"Oh Dad is home he he he"

Well we were right he got in so much trouble that I think technically he is still grounded! I swear I saw smoke come out of my Dad's ears. I have never seen him that mad!

The poor lawn mower, the whole front frame was bent, wouldn't even restart. He had to pay for the repairs which took him forever.

So fear not those of you with little trouble makers there is hope. From hellion to officer in the Coast Guard is pretty impressive.

My nose is clogged...it won't come out

Seth
"I am going to kick your head in"
While watching PBS sprout.

Me
"What did you say?"

Seth
"Max on Dragon Tales said it Mom, he did I swear. He did"

Me
"Seth it is PBS all good all inniocent and beautiful and cheary. I do doublt that Max said that"

Seth
"He did Mom I swear he did, I told you he did"

Me
"No he did not. That's it with the naughty talk, I am turning the TV off"
I do not know where he got this saying buy he says ALL THE FLIPPIN TIME! I am thinking from that boy in his class that caused more trouble then he did.

Seth
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
WAAAAAA WAAA WAAA WAAA WAAA NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
WAAAA WAAAA WAAAA WAAA WAAAA NOOO WA WAAAA WA WAAA WAA
YOUR MEAN WAAA WAAAA WAAA MY SHOWS I WANT MY SHOWS NOOO
WAAAA WAAA WAAAA WAAAA TURN THEM BACK ON WAAAAAA WAAAA
WAAAA WAAAA WAAAA WAAAA NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO"

This was all in one long breath I swear! Wow huh? This kids has a set of lungs.

Me in the nicest sweetest voice, no sarcasm at all I swear. I had a great day and I had just come home from yoga class. I was so relaxed.
"It doesn't matter how long or how hard or how loud you cry I am not turning the TV back on"

Seth
"OK, good night"

Me absolutely silent and thinking that little snot gobblin, UGH!!!!!!!!!! Why does this child do this to me? He is the sweetest cutest thing. Loves to snuggle and will kiss you because he loves you too much. Aw right? I ALWAYS hear that I am the best mom and I get a HUGE bear hug. Aw again. Then no more then 2 seconds after being so sweet I hear
"Butthead"
"I am going to kick your head off"
"Fart"
"poop"

That is sassy talk in our house and he so knows it. UGH this child I adore him!

10 minutes after crying

Seth
"My nose is clogged, the stuffy won't come out"

Me
"Get a tissue they are on the piano"

Seth
"I want to Neti Pot"

Me
'Just bow your nose"

Seth
"Aw man, your so mean mom"

Me
"I try little man I try"

Tuesday's Green Tip

So here it is Tuesday and it time for my Green tip of the week. I PROMISE I will try not to talk about my hatred of the plastic bag again. I have spoken of them several times in past blogs. Bet y'all are like "Gezz girl we get it! Plastic bags are NO GOOD" I am so very happy that you got that message.

Today's tip is....dish detergent and dish washer detergent. Your typical detergents have phosphate which are BAD! They get into our ground water we drink it-has been linked to cancer. Some also contain petroleum, as in oil! What? Go ahead and read the back of your regular bottle. Why are we using oil in our cleaning products?

There are several different phosphate free dish detergents out there we prefer the Seventh Generation Lavender floral and mint. I can say that it was not much more expensive then your traditional brands, I think it may have been less! I purchase it at Target.

Some well known brands now have Phosphate free dishwasher detergents. We have tried them, they tend to leave a white film on some of the dishes. We prefer the Seventh Generation Free and Clear Automatic Dishwasher detergent in powder form. This is a bit more expensive then your other brands. I get coupons from the Seventh Generation web site and from my grocery store(the ones that print at checkout) I have also found it on sale at Walgreens for 2/$5.00 that is a steal, only happened once.

Until next Tuesday....Be Green!

If the shoes don't fit....they fall off!

Seth wanted, needed, begged and cried for new Crocs. He was VERY specific about them being "Crocs just like Tony and Daddy have"
We went on a Croc hunt all around town. I am sure I used up at least $20.00 in gas. We found 1 pair in his size but they were black.
"Tony and Daddy have blue, I want blue NOT black!!!!!" was SCREAMED super loud in the store. Then the tears.
"You are not a nice mommy, mommy"
"You are so mean"
"You don't love me" (At the time and the way he was carrying on I can so see why he said that)
Then the running away from me in the store as he is still saying
"You are a mean mommy"
I was starting to get the looks. You know the ones. The what the heck did you do to your child look. The ever so accusing look, the assumption that I somehow hurt him.
That was the plan AFTER we left the store, never in public. We save the beating for behind closed doors and windows. Family rule, hit below the neck no visible mark!
I finally grab him and out of the store we go, no Crocs.

We get home he is still mad and I am not so mean. I went to Crocs.com and found some navy blue ones that were like Tony's and Daddy's I ordered them.
He was so excited when the arrived.
Damn it wouldn't you know that I got the wrong friggin size? The distraction at the store made me think I saw one size when in fact it was another.
This kid is soooooo stubborn, like none I have EVER seen before, the Crocs are big, no big deal I can still wear them and trip on my ass stubborn.

So he insists on wearing them to Target, I reluctantly give in thinking he is going to fall and to the ER again this would be the 4th time and that is not good. OK so you have to pick and choose your battles OK!?!?!

We get to Target then it's the "I want to sit in the cart" fit. I give in even thought he is getting much to big to be in the cart. OK again pick and choose your battles.

We are going along getting our goods having a BLAST because it is Target when I look down and see he is no longer wearing his shoes.

I glance under the cart nope not there. I look right at him and say "Seth you lost your shoes"
His response in the WORST poker face ever was "What they are not on my feet?" Looks down and says "Holy cow I lost my shoes"

"OK so your telling me that you did not feel them fall off? How could you not?"
Still bad poker face "I musta left them in the car"
Come on little man work with me not against me I know you had them on remember tripping in the parking lot? I do! You said "Stupid big Crocs" Then I yelled at you for saying stupid. And how would I not notice that you were shoeless?

We retrace our steps and see an employee carrying them I flag him down, thank him and Seth went shoeless for the rest of our shopping trip. I was wondering what the odd looks were for. Guess I would give a look to someone who's child was shoeless in the store, there are is a law against that you know.

No shirts, No Shoes No service, Duh!

Now it is back to the freak out over no having Crocs like Tony and Daddy! After this post it is off to Crocs.com AGAIN to get the kid the shoes he longs for in the correct size.

He is NOT spoiled!

UPDATE
After reading this my husband thinks that we are going to get a call from Social Service because I said we beat our kids behind closed doors. Does he really believe all of you in bloggerville think I harm my children? YES and to make him happy I am telling you we don't. When did he get so serious? Maybe I should beat him?

The Secret is in the Sauce

GREAT new site with SUPER contest. You need to see this! Two very funny ladies have put their brilliant minds together to come up with blog all about me! (well and you)
Go check it out!
SITS(The Secret is in the Sauce)