Archives for December 2008

in other news….

I realize that my many many days of thank you’s may not be so interesting to you. 😉 But, it’s something I have to do. So hang in there. =) I, in all my glory, will be back in action right after the holidays.
So, get this. I turned 30. I was all, yay 30, great things are happening! Remember? Ya, well just a few weeks after that, I got chest pains. Such intense chest pains that it brought me to Urgent Care and after hours of tests it was revealed that in my old age, my trusty gall bladder may be failing me. “Something” is in there, they just aren’t sure what. It’s now been a week, and this last Saturday was my 4th attack. Whatever that “something” is, it doesn’t want to stay in there anymore. I have a feeling that just like I had to say goodbye to my tonsils, my wisdom teeth, and my appendix, the gallbladder may be a thing of the past as well.
In other news:
I’m watching The Hills. Justin Bobby is wearing overalls. Ew.
Back to my gallbladder. So, I’m waiting for the call back from my doctor telling me that I’m dying of gallbladder cancer and to start making my bucket list. Or, I guess more realistically, that I might get to have it removed. I say “get” because that means a nice solid drug induced sleep, more nurses doting on me, and pain medicine. Plus, Jimmy is extra sweet when my life is at stake, so I plan on eating that up as much as I can. Like in a, oh I can’t take care of anything because it strains my gallbladder, type of way. Because gallbladder cancer really does hurt. Bad.
And in case you wanted to know other very important things about my day:
I felt bonded with Oprah in that I ate my emotions all day today. I’m not even sure what my emotions were, but the way I was eating ALL day long, it would seem that there has to be some emotions that need dealing with. And the really sucky thing, is that I didn’t even have good food to numb whatever kind of pain was happening. Instead I had cereal that I only kinda liked, a bunch of breakfast bars because they had a hint of chocolate, Cheese Nips that were actually a little gross, fruit leathers because they had sweet, and so on. What the heck was I even thinking attempting to lose 10 pounds around Christmas?
P90X begins the Monday after. I’ll deal with my emotions then. Until that day, more bonding with Oprah.
And lastly, I’m reading sTORI Telling, by Tori Spelling. I started this afternoon and I’m already halfway through the book. I just have to say a few things.
1. I am so glad I’m not famous.
2. I can’t stand her mother.
3. I’m so glad I’m not friends with anybody famous. (the stories of people she knows!!!)
I totally love her though, and swear if I didn’t have the Rule #3, I think we could be great friends.
Now, I have to go. The Hills is on and Heidi needs my prayers.
© 2008 “Le Musings of Moi”
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on the sixth day of thank you’s: june

Jim & Sharon: Jim is Jimmy’s dad and Sharon is his wife, Jimmy’s step mom. I can not even appropriately put into words how much the two of them mean to not just me, but to Jimmy as well, and especially to Taylor. All that they have done and how they have sacrifically given their time and resources to help us can never ever be repaid. I asked Sharon to be in the room when I had Taylor, and she was amazing. She even stepped right up when Jimmy got squeamish and cut the umbilical cord, which I know was an amazing experience for both of us. From the moment that kid (surprise, surprise!) was born, he did not stop crying. He cried till he fell asleep and he cried the second his eyes opened. I think he hated me. Or it was gas. But, at the time, I was sure it was me. Jimmy and I were tired. Beyond tired. And I was having issues with breast feeding, with mastitis, with lack of sleep, with…well with just about everything related to be a first time mom. Basically, and I think you may be figuring this out by now, I just had (have!) issues. (Oh you shhh! You do too.) Anyway, Sharon swept right in. She packed her bags and moved into our house for a few days. She set up a sleep area on our couch and kept Taylor with her all night long every single night she was here. All I had to do was get up to pump, for the love, and get back to sleep. I was in bliss sleeping and she was in bliss with Taylor. I snuck a peek on her one of those nights, and she had the little screamer quiet and he was peacefully sleeping on her chest. Her and Jim have always had a way with him. Though they live almost two hours from us, it has never stopped them from being a constant in our lives. One thing they started doing almost about a year or more ago is taking Taylor one weekend a month. Oh the joy!!! I repeat, oh the joy!!! Not only was he able to be loved on by family, but Jimmy and I were able to go on dates and reconnect as a married couple. They have completely stocked their house with every toy imaginable that Tay has ever loved, and then they spoil him beyond belief. There is such a special bond shared with his Nana & Papa. It honestly touches my heart so much that I want to cry everytime I see them together. At random times every week he asks to call them on the phone, and then he takes off and walks around the house carrying on his own conversation with them. It’s adorable. It’s exactly what he deserves. As you can see, they are incredible people with a lot of love to give. And I could go on and on and on. I love them that much.
Marnie: Marnie is my boss at HurryDate. But, though we’ve actually only hung out a handful of times, she’s an important person in my life. I really started to admire her (other than the time she was smart enough to hire me!) was when I found her blog and saw what incredible and unusual depth she had to her heart and life. She’s an amazing writer and a talented photographer. We have the shared bond of being surviving rape victims, and what she has done with that is what I hope and aspire to do myself one day. She’s such a voice in the community, and a leader in making change, helping others to heal and grow and be empowered. I adore her. In every way, she is incredible. You HAVE to go to her blog and get to know her yourself. You’ll be touched for sure.
© 2008 “Le Musings of Moi”
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on the fifth day of thank you’s: may

Left to Right: Dorothy, me, Kristen & Jill. (Dorothy is also awesome! Her and her husband host our bible study in their home.)
Jill: My mentor, my bible study leader, my pseudo mom, my friend…there are so many words to describe her. When I think about her and how much she means to me, my eyes start to tear up. I can’t imagine my life without her. She is an incredible woman, and I completely look up to her. She always has such wisdom to share, and the way she handles life is truly an inspiration. Not to put her on a pedastool, (but step right up, Jill), I think anybody who knows her is a better person because of it. The way she loves God, her husband, her small group….the way she loves everyone is something to be admired. One thing that really stands out about her is that I’ve never once heard her say an ill willed thing about anyone. I’ve never heard her gossip, and she can take any situation and find the “blessing” in it. It’s a talent, what that girl has. And if there is ever anything I need prayer for, she is the first one I call, or email, or text. Because I know without a shadow of a doubt, she will immediately be lifting me or whatever the request is up to God. I’ve felt and seen the results of that faithfulness so many times. I’ve adopted her as my other mom (even though she’s much too young to ever be able to be my mom!). So, she is also always going to be stuck with me.

Mari: Mari, Mari, Mari…. Okay, so let me honest for a minute. For some odd reason, this crazy girl didn’t much care for me when we first met almost 8 or 9 years ago. For the life of me, I can’t understand why. I mean, come on. Moi??? But without too much time she saw the error of her ways, and I quickly found a way into her heart. I mean, I did have to pay her a large sum of money and make some promises I can’t repeat here, but hey…her friendship is worth it! 😉 I forgive her though. I mean, we all have lapses in judgement from time to time. It happens. But seriously, Mari is what I can never be. Lil’ miss Suzi Homemaker. She cooks, she cleans, she gardens, she raises her children in the most well thought out way. She’s patient, and funny, and genuine, and honest. She has a testimony that you wouldn’t believe, which makes me respect her even more. She’s also one of the hardest workers I know. She’s never afraid to get her hands dirty. But, what I really love about her, is her heart. (Seems to be a running theme with the people in my life!) She really is one of my most loyal friends. See what money can buy?
© 2008 “Le Musings of Moi”
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on the fourth day of thank you’s: april

Bethany: From the moment I met Bethany, I felt comfort. Anybody who meets her instantly connects with her, because she is just that kind of a girl. She’s one of the strongest women I know, but what I first loved about Bethany and what I still love about her to this day, is that she is so real. There is no facade, no trying to pretend to be something she isn’t. I love that. I adore that actually. She’s not afraid to let it all out there which is why people gravitate towards her. Beautiful, authentic, sweet, caring, funny, strong, determined….I could go on and on. She wears her heart on her sleeve, and it’s incredible to see. I wish every woman could be a “Bethany.” If we could all stop the pretending, stop trying to be perfect, and be open with hearts and struggles, it could change so much. I believe that kind of sincerity only brings people closer because we learn that we’re more alike than we think.

***From the 80’s Party!***
Christi: Another friend from an old bible study, and a friend that is one who will last forever. (Whether she likes it or not.) We have the same issues, and I love it. You know how with AA you have a sponsor? Well I would say we’re like sponsors for each other when it comes to our issues. 😉 And what’s awesome is that we can totally laugh about it and poke fun at ourselves. Her type of humor is so up my alley. It’s awesome! My favorite memory with her is the night she came over when both our men were out of town, and we just sat on the couch with a glass of wine and red licorice and shared stories about our life all night long. There was no radio, no tv, just the two of us bonding. It was so fun. She’s about to have her first baby, and I can’t wait to bond over that issue as well!!! Ha ha!
© 2008 “Le Musings of Moi”
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on the third day of thank you’s: march

The two girls today are some of the sweetest people I know. And they both share the same exact birthday….year and everything….March 27, 1979.

Laura: My bestest-estest friend from all the way back in junior high. We’ve been through it all. Ups and downs, good and bad. (And times we were very very bad…) 😉 Since graduation we’ve lived in the same state for only two years, but that hasn’t stopped us from talking nearly every day. And when we do see each other, it feels like no time has passed. I don’t think there are too many people in my life who know me as well as she does. We can laugh so hard that noise stops coming out, and we can cry so hard that our eyes puff out. And what’s really “fun” is that we tend to go through the same things at the same time, so we can always relate. She’s more like family than anything, so she’s stuck with me for life.

Becky: She is one of those people that you meet and you wonder if she’s for real. She’s so genuine and sweet, and extremely selfless and giving. I met her almost 5 years ago at church, and we immediately clicked. Two years ago she moved to New York, and even though it’s been hard to connect much over the phone, it doesn’t stop us from calling each other and leaving messages so long that the operator lady cuts us off. Thankfully we also have email and our blogs. She has the funniest sayings and can always make me laugh by the way she will try to say things with a french accent. And she’s not even french. (“shez” for “chaise”) She remembers everything, all the special dates and memories, and always takes time to send sweet cards or flowers. If there’s anyone that inspires me to be better, this is the girl.
© 2008 “Le Musings of Moi”
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breaking & entering christmas

Every year around Christmas, a local radio station asks for people to send letters nominating a family who is in great need. The station chooses one family, and then goes to the extreme to bless them for Christmas. Tommy, the guy who heads this up, organizes it so that it’s Top Secret, and the family never knows how or who all the amazing gifts came from.
Every year I listen. Every year I cry. Every year, I’m reminded of the real meaning of giving.
This year though, it was beyond words. How this family was living, and how Tommy hooked them up….Oh. My. Word.
Here’s Part 1. Then Part 2. There are also pictures and a video here. Trust me, it’s worth the time you’ll spend following the whole story.
Merry Christmas.
© 2008 “Le Musings of Moi”
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on the second day of thank you’s: february

Dana: Another neighbor, and another amazing friend. Dana and I first began to bond over “fitness.” We started working out together and quickly realized that we had found our workout partner match made in heaven. She was also my cheerleader in the pregnancy department. She helped to ease my fears regarding having a second baby, and even offered to buy me my Ovulation Tests. Now only a true friend would do that. On the night I found out I was pregnant, and I was about to hypervenalate, she was the one I called first. Her excitement calmed me down, and quickly I found myself caught up in her enthusiasm. Even with both of us pregnant, we would still waddle into the gym together three times a week and proceed to show up even the strongest of guys in that place. (well, at least we liked to think so!) Now that we both have little babies, and the dang childcare won’t take them until they are 6 months, our gym bonding time is temporarily on a break. But, even without that, she’s still one of my favorite girls.

Jimmy: Since February was the month of “love” as well as the month we found out I was pregnant, I have to also thank Jimmy. You know, since he did have some small part of it. 😉 He was super sweet and patient with me during my highs and lows regarding the whole “should we get pregnant” thing. And on Valentines Day when I took my dollar store test simply to prove it was safe to go back on the pill, but instead it showed positive, he went immediately to the store at 9:45 at night to get the expensive brand for me. Then he tried his best to stay awake while I waited for the feeling to pee again so that I could take the second one to be sure. Such a great husband.
© 2008 “Le Musings of Moi”
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on the first day of thank you’s: january

January was the last month I can remember that I’ve experienced anxiety to date. (With the exception of labor!) It was dwindling out, and actually my moments were few and far between.
I could never have made it through any of that without my family and friends. But since I can’t thank them all in the same month, I’m going to focus on just two.

Kristen is my happy place. She is always there to lean on and yet she always has a positive light to shed on any situation. She would go any distance to help make me feel better and happy, and she always accomplishes exactly that. We were friends long before January, but I really feel this was the month that our friendship grew to a new level. The next month, February, two weeks after finding out I was pregnant with Chloe, she called with the happy news that she was expecting as well! It was so fun, and at times not so fun (on our hormonal days), to share the experience together. I love this girl and am so happy she’s in my life.

Betsy is my go to girl. She’s always willing to be right there in my moment with me, and somehow she always has just the right Bible verse or prayer that speaks directly to my heart. When things got hard there for awhile, she would bring Jamba Juice on the days I couldn’t stomach anything else, and even let me bring my crazy toddler over to her house while I just melted down on her couch. There isn’t anything I can’t share with her that she doesn’t understand or relate to, and I always feel it’s safe to be myself when she’s around. What really bonds us, and this is important, is our love of celebrity gossip and US magazine. I even hear a rumor that she suddenly has an inside source…So, I’m definitely keeping her around!
The funny thing about these two girls is that they actually were friends with each other way before I knew them. I knew Kristen from church and had invited her over to hang with her boys. When she came to my house she was telling me about “this girl” who went to our church and lived down the street from me. She introduced us that day, and the rest is history….

© 2008 “Le Musings of Moi”
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things i love: some cool websites

Okay, just wanted to pass along a few I’ve recently found and think I like…
freeshipping.org: I saw this one in one of my magazines today, and already it’s on my favorites list. This one will especially come in handy for the holidays!
Cozi Central: My new homepage! It’s awesome for so many reasons, but especially the shopping list page. You can set up the list and have it sent to your phone. OR, if you forget the list while at the store, there is a number to call and it will read the list to you. Genius!
Coupon Mom: This is the only website I know of that will tell you what’s on sale at your local stores, and you don’t have to pay for the info! It’s totally free. This is especially helpful if you clip coupons!
Fashion Junkee & AmiClubWear: Say you’re dying for the latest designer purse and you just can’t see yourself dishing out $1200 for it. This is when these websites will come in handy. They are absolutely my latest addiction, and I’ve been OBSESSED over the Marc Jacobs knockoff.
And last but not least, I had to share that at the end of every year, Amazondoes awesome deals on magazines. I just ordered Redbook for $3 for the entire year. They run the deals on lots of different ones, so go check it out. Click below and search for your favorite magazine!
Now go get to shopping…
© 2008 “Le Musings of Moi”
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i’ve been published! (UPDATED) *Another article*

I just signed up with Associated Content and am starting to write articles for their site. It’s nice because you get paid (not a whole lot) per view of your article. Not too bad. And it gets your writing exposed! You in?
Click here:
Join Associated Content
I just got my first two articles published. Check them out!
From now on, I will post the titles to these articles on the left side of my blog. Just in case you aren’t getting enough of my stuff on here. 😉 And also because mama needs a new pair of shoes! So, go click and support my habit!
© 2008 “Le Musings of Moi”
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