Stop, Look, Listen... Click here if you wanna win a $25 Amex gift card

Help support local schools and enter for a chance to win a $25 American Express Gift Card by simply clicking on this here link to my fabulous but very much neglected-of- late review blog.

Have a nice Memorial Day weekend, y'all!

Sleeping in Hell - A post comprised mostly of pictures *Click on photos to enlarge and view captions

We always knew that at some point we'd need to change sleeping arrangements. For the most part the twins have enjoyed sleeping in the same room. Now that they're seven and quickly growing and changing we figured it was approaching that time.


So this is where we began on a cold and rainy Sunday




When hubby suggested we paint, I was overjoyed. I was suprised that he was that ambitious. If you know my hubby, you know he is excellent at home projects but generally hates doing them. Recognizing a moment to be seized, I quickly sent the Mr. and my son,B to go get some blue paint (the original color the hubby suggested). Just before they left, the Mr. joked (as if it were the most ridiculous notion ever) about how B wanted his room to be red and orange. Ha! I scoffed. Wouldn't that be something!? (read: hideous and no way in hell- no pun intended)


They came home with red and orange paint anyway.

And began designing






I wasn't getting it at this "during" stage


Then there was this:




Which even though it wasn't even close to my first choice of paint jobs/colors/designs has made a little boy very happy.

And it ain't hurtin anybody. So stop judging!

*Ahem*

Next week, we turn a little girls room in to a diva rockstar palace.

Lawd help me.

An ode to the twins

If I put my elbow at my side and extended my forearm forward, my hand rested right on my 36 week pregnant belly.

It was Mother's Day and I woke up at 6:00 a.m.

Realizing I had no gift for my mother,against doctors advice, I waddled down two flights of stairs, out of my house, hoisted myself into my car and drove to a nearby store for a card and flowers.

Moving was quite the challenge as I was carrying nearly 12 lbs of matter in my belly but I was determined to find just the right card. In hindsight I was really lucky that my water didn't break in that Albertsons.

I'll never forget the moment when my water broke. I'd been home from the store maybe an hour or two when it happened. I heard a pop and then I felt it. I couldn't stop it. It seemed to go on forever. I freaked as we tried to cram my mom, my twin sister and my stepdaughters who were all at my house on that day into our van. Since no one had actually had breakfast my stepdaughters who were just 8 and 10 at the time were trying to grab food. I remember rushing everyone.

I , just wanted to be at the hospital. It was scary and bizarre because my "water" continued to be released all the way to the hospital. Frankly, I wondered what my little ones were surviving in.

Once at the hospital everything happened so fast, the contractions started like clockwork. Nurses and doctors were rushing around me in triage checking monitors asking me questions, telling me to breathe.

About 30 minutes and a spinal block later at 12:38 and 12:40 p.m. I'd meet them.

And my life would change forever.

That was seven years ago today.

Every day I know my son and daughter my life is enriched. They're bright, witty, sensitive and compassionate. They're cuter than words can say and changing by leaps and bounds with each passing day. Just thinking about them makes me smile.

Happy Birthday, my loves. You mean the world to me.

I'd rather be snoring...

So yeah, it's Monday and I feel like I haven't gotten an ounce of sleep. Ever. At any point during my 37 years.

Alright so maybe I'm exaggerating. But we celebrated the twins upcoming birthday with not one but two parties. One Friday evening and one Saturday. Sunday was a day filled with a bit of gambling, a bit of marveling at how many old women with oxygen tanks gamble, a bit of eating and a whole lot of celebrating with my mom for mother's day. I am exhausted.

Oh and did I mention that crab mac and cheese I had out at the casino is totally rebelling on me now. Yeah it's not pretty.

So tell me, what did you do this weekend ?

Celebrating Moms - Mother's Day Giveaway

First of all, forgive me if I ramble as I was up with a sick child and by sick I mean the worst kind, vomiting, half the night. I'm existing on less than 4 hours of sleep. But that's what I do.
Motherhood isn't always pretty, but I've said it once and I'll say it again. It is the most important job I will ever do. And frankly, it's my favorite. My children continue to amaze me daily with their growth and innocence. Their budding senses of humor, their sweetness and compassion. The love I have for them is immeasurable.

And much of that I owe to my own mother. She showed me how to be a good mom. Now that I'm an adult I feel fortunate to be able to call her my mother and one of my best friends. I make a habit of letting her know how important she is to me regularly.

I hope you all do the same for that special woman in your lives.

The Promotion:

With Mother's Day approaching, what better way to celebrate that special woman than by taking her out for a nice meal.

Buffets's Inc (All Ryan's, Fire Mountain Grill, Old Country Buffet, HomeTown Buffet, Granny's Buffet and Country buffet restaurant locations across the country) wants to help you do that with the two-day "We Celebrate Moms" Mother's Day tribute at all restaurants. The promotion offers a chance to win pampering prizes for mom – ranging from restaurant gift cards to spa gift certificates to a luxurious cruise. This is their way of saying thanks and celebrating the woman at the heart of everyone's family.

When: Sunday, May 9 and Monday, May 10

Who: Any mom who dines at a Buffets, Inc. restaurant is eligible

How: Moms visiting any Buffets, Inc. restaurant on May 9 or 10 will receive a card containing a unique entry code. By entering the code at the www.wecelebratemoms.comwebsite, guests will learn whether they are a lucky instant winner. Everyone who participates will win a certificate for a Buy One, Get One Free (“BOGO”) meal at a Buffets, Inc. restaurant.

The Giveaway:

And Buffets Inc has graciously allowed me to offer two lucky readers "Be Our Guest" passes good for one complimentary breakfast, lunch or dinner at a Buffet's inc restaurant.

Simply leave a comment telling me how you'll celebrate that special woman in your life by 11:59 p.m. PST May 6th. Two winners will be chosen at random from all comments.

*Giveaway courtesy of Buffets Inc. I will receive one Be our Guest Card. No other compensation was received for this post

It was sloppy, wet and I only kind of liked it

On the way in to work this morning I heard it was National Remember Your First Kiss Day (aside- is it just me or is there a national everything day? In fact I think yesterday was National Watch Paint Dry Day)

*Ahem*

It took me back, way back. To 8th grade.

His name was Ben and he was so cute. We had seventh period together and flirted like mad but neither of us ever had the guts to pull the trigger.

One day as I sat at home lusting after dreaming about Ben I decided I'd write him a note. Instead of straight out confessing my feelings I wrote the beginning of a story that mirrored our situation and asked that he complete the rest and then give it back to my sister during fifth period. I remember adding several "ha, ha, ha, has" after my part of the story. I called it my protection. Protection in the event that he looked at the note , laughed his ass off then gagged at the thought of an "us".

As luck would have it , I didn't need the protection. He ended the story with the man professing his love to the woman and the P.S. and I quote " are you going to the 8th grade dance if this means what I think it means then HOT DAMN"

I was over the moon. In seventh period , after exchanging several winks and goo goo eyes we made arrangements to walk home together.

My pulse quickened and my pupils turned to hearts as I daydreamed that whole class away.

Before I knew it it was time to go.

And it was everything I anticipated. Holding Ben's hand was magical. I felt on top of the world. But then we'd gotten to his house too quickly. I didn't want the afternoon to end. So we decided to walk to my house.

Once at my house I introduced him to my stepmother and showed him around and then he told me he needed to get back home.

It was at that moment that I officially got nervous. I knew there was going to be a kiss. I knew other people in my class that had actually french kissed before. But I wasn't one of them.
Ben was my first "real boyfriend" and holding hands that day was as far as I had gotten. Hell, I was only 12 years old (for those of you doing the math, I started kindergarten at age 4).

Sweating, I walked him out and headed down the sidewalk.

I told him I'd walk him halfway, in an effort to stall.

We took a shortcut he knew and we were behind several houses when I knew I couldn't stall any longer.

As we said our goodbyes I secretly wondered if I could get away with a peck. I quickly found out that wasn't to be.

He leaned in and put his arms around me. I closed my eyes and put my arms around him. Our lips touched. Then, there it was. His tongue poking at my lips.
I had less than a second to decide my course of action. I wasn't completely stupid. I'd watched R movies. I figured the best thing to do was open my mouth.

Only I didn't know what to do with my tongue.

So I clumsily circled his tongue, and felt his drool down the side of my mouth.

Then it was over.

And I was glad.

I opened my eyes and smiled at him.

We hugged and then went our seperate ways. Once I was sure he was gone I wiped the side of my mouth and ran. I don't know why I ran at that moment. It just felt like the right thing to do.

When I got home I told my twin sister what I'd just done and how I felt about it. We laughed and laughed.

Our relationship ended with a tragic breakup a few days later at the 8th grade dance. The break-up had nothing to do with the kiss and my desire to never do it again. It had more to do with peer pressure. And the fact that I was beginning to explore the new wave lifestyle and Ben was a jock. I let my friends convince me he wasn't the one.
What can I say I was 12.

And that my friends, is the story of my first kiss.


Epilogue: In Ben's defense, I don't think he was a bad kisser. We were kids. Very inexperienced kids. Freshman year, he begin dating a Sophomore field hockey player. They dated all throughout high school and college and are now married with children. As for Ben and I. We're friends now. On Facebook.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

I took a painkiller moments ago so be prepared for this post to go downhill. Quickly.

The surgery went well from what I'm told. And two days post... I'm. Well I think I'm alright.

The morning of surgery was just odd. It was all very surreal and I felt like I was on the set of {insert popular medical drama here.I'm not up on my medi-dramas anymore. Ahem}.

The hospital staff was really wonderful, but as they poked and prodded all I wanted to do for some reason was make inappropriate jokes. When I was asked to remove my clothes I had to have a serious discussion with myself so I didn't ask them to make sure the doctor didn't molest me while I was out. In my head it kinda sounded funny. I know. Not funny right? I blame the drugs and the nerves.

The last thing I remember prior to surgery was my very lovely anesthesiology nurse asking me to breathe deeply into the oxygen mask, the stinging sensation in my IV that she'd assured me the sleepy bye bye drug would cause and the words "Goodnight, Stacey".

The next thing I recall was me asking somebody if I'd just come from work, them telling me no, and then my husband's gentle touch on my cheek.

I was in recovery. And higher than I imagine any one has ever been in the history of man. Apparently I'd told someone my pain level was high and so they gave me Fentanyl. I never ever want that shit again. I felt out of control and I just wanted to feel like me.

But they were pushing me to get dressed and get out (in the hospital's defense I was adamant that I didn't want to stay overnight). I remember telling the hubby he was going to have to help me walk out because I just knew my legs would have betrayed me had I tried to stand on them (thank goodness for wheelchairs).
We made it home around 11:00 a.m. and my bed and I have been good friends over the last several days. It's been weird, but kind of nice, but mostly weird.

I had a lot more to say, I think. But I think you get the gist...
So I shall say goodbye and thanks to y'all for your well wishes and offers to cuddle and make out when I'm better.
So you can be here with me in spirit I give you me in pictures Pretty right?
I know I'm a good friend.
Smooches.