Spraypaint LOVE

I have been wanting to get crafty lately.  It's like a bug that just keeps annoying me, but I just haven't had the time.  But thankfully, I got the time!! :) 

Let me first say that I love Spray Paint.  I just think that it is so useful for quick touch ups and projects. I decided while I was out on an outing with my little man, to stop by our local Goodwill.  And thank goodness I did.  I found a CUTE binder that I will use for my home management binder that I have been working on. For .55! Brand new.  Also, I found a cute little basket, for .55, and Nic some swim floaties, which were Disney Cars, for .25!! Brand new, never opened, to be put up for next year.  Very sucessful trip. 

So, I was wondering what I could use that basket for.  I know I bought it and could use it for something, but not sure what.  LIGHTBULB!! Oh yeah, a key/wallet holder!  Brian, the signifigant other (: loses his keys a lot.  (Of course he doesn't say that he LOST them, just misplaced them. hehe.)  So what could be better than a basket that holds them when he comes home from work. 

The basket was white, and plain.  Our bedroom accents are black, so first thing I thought was...Spraypaint.  I already had some from another project I wanted to do, which worked perfect!  I forgot to take a picture before of the basket, but here it is after the paint. 

Sorry about the brightness, I'm still trying to figure my camera out. :)

Cute right? The right size, height, and everything.  But something was still missing.  I figured our keys may get caught in the wicker bottom.  So we were at Walmart the other day, which ours has brought back fabric, and found the cutest print!  It was a fat quarter for .98!!  So not only will I have enough for this, but a few other projects as well.  So I cut it, pressed it, and plan to sew it, once I can get my maching going.  (I have to replace the needle, when I remember to get one!)

Final Product:

Super cute right? I love it.  Brian does too, even though it is pink! :)

Cost:

Basket: .55

Paint: .69

Cloth: .99

Total: 2.23!!

Totally Cute and Totally Functional!!

Thanks for looking!  Going to be doing some other projects, so stay tuned!

Linking up to:

xoxo;

Jenn

Gotta get something off my mind...

So I let someone really bother me today.

  Here's the story...I sold someone some of the little man's clothing on Craigslist and they e-mailed me today, complaining that they smelt and were out of style.  And they said that I MISLEAD them.  Which I totally didn't.  But here's the thing...I'm so letting it get to me, even though I know I am not wrong. 

I guess what got me is the smelling thing.  Our clothes do not smell.  Maybe since she has a different house then us, or just because she is a stuck up snobby bitch.  I mean, she didn't even look at them before she bought them. UGH.

I have been letting people get to me wayyy too much. 

 This makes me think of my Grandma.  She was so strong and would just look past it.  Why can't I be more like her?  I miss her so much. I just wish she could be here to see our little boy.  She would have fell in love.  But like I said, a situation like this would have never gotten to her. 

Maybe this is a test from God.  I am not all that religious, but I do believe.  But if it is, He sure has been giving me a lot lately.  I do need to become a stronger woman.  I have let people walk all over me.  This has to stop.  Maybe this is Gods way of telling me that I need to stop it.  I think it is.  And you know what, that is now on my list of goals for myself.  To not let things bother me.  

Life is too short.  

Plain and Simple.  

This. This is what keeps me going.  Everyday.

It's the little things...

Today is the little man's birthday. He is 2! years old. He amazes me everyday with that smile, laugh, and crazy antics.

When I was younger, I never thought that I would be the person to have a kid while still in college. I kinda wanted the whole college experience. I must admit, I wasn't too thrilled with the thought of having a baby at 20. But, he has made my life so much greater.

Having a baby made me and Brian 10x closer. We have a bond that can never be broken. It also brought me so much closer to my mom. She has always been my best friend, but experiencing this with her was amazing. So enjoy some pictures of my beautiful baby boy. He's gonna be a heartbreaker.

A-Z!

Let's try something fun today!
Here's a little bit more about me!
A: Age: 22...although sometimes I feel like I'm about 13. B. Bed size: Queen. But sometimes, I really wish we had room for a king. Nicolas is a bed HOG! C. Chore that you hate: Dusting...allergies...do I need to say more? When I dust, it gets my allergies roaring. But it's a lose lose situation. The act up if I don't dust. D. Dogs: 2 Chihuahuas. They are mom and daughter. Gypsy, the mom, was my grandma's dog. Kinda like a connection to her in heaven. E. Essential start to your day: A hug and a kiss from my 2 guys. F. Favorite color: Don't really have one. But I do love white. It's just so clean. :) G. Gold or Silver: Silver. I hate gold. H. Height: 5'4" My son is gonna use me as an arm rest. haha. He's already up to my waist. I. Instruments you play: I took a piano class in high school. I still remember bits and peices, but couldn't play like a used to. J. Job title: Mommy! and Honey. :) K. Kids: Have one, but not sure about anymore. Maybe when we are more financially stable. L. Live: Virginia M. Mother’s name: Sara N. Nicknames: Jenn. My name is Jennifer, but I like Jenn better. It's easier. My mom has always called me boo. O. Overnight hospital stays: When I had my son, and I had my gallbladder out at 8 mos. pregnant. Talk about fun. Not. P. Pet peeves: Manners. I hate when people don't say Please, or Thank you. This is something I will always instill to my son. Q. Quote from a movie: "The best love is the kind that awakens the soul; that makes us reach for more, that plants the fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds. That's what I hope to give you forever." Melt my heart. R. Right or left handed: Right handed. Brian is left handed, and Nicolas is using both. S. Siblings: Just a half-brother that I have never met. U. Underwear: Seriously? V. Vegetable you hate: Broccli. I hate the texture. W. What makes you run late: Procrastination. Then I stress and do it right before I go. X. X-Rays you’ve had: My wrists. I have sprained both wrists 8x all together when I was younger. Y. Yummy food that you make: I make some killer oreo balls. Z. Zoo animal: Monkeys or elephants. Of course I have a monkey living right in my house! Yet again, I can't upload pictures. Ugh...Seriously?

New quest to frugality...

So, we have had a sudden change in our life, which I can't go into detail about at this point, but we are having to start really watching our money. I have always been trying new ways to save some money, but now, it is more important than ever. So my first thing that I am going to try is homemade baby wipes. We're almost out, so this is going to be tried tonight. :) At the moment, we are paying $5 for baby wipes, and you get 184 I think. If I figured it out right, we will definitly be saving money. I am not sure if I am going to use paper towels, or wash clothes. We have a lot of baby wash clothes, so I am thinking that I will go that route. I just don't know how I will deal with the washing of the pooy ones. I may just make up two batches, one of paper towels for the poo, and one of wash clothes, for just messiness and before bed wipedowns, for non bath nights. So that is my first experiment, so to say. We are getting ready to potty train, actively, which is has already went 2x in the potty, we just have to work on it more. :) So off I go, to find some other money saving tips, and if you have any at all, please, feel free! :)

Bittersweet feelings...

So fall is fast approching, meaning another season has flown by without me noticing it. Another season that I spent with my little man, and one less to spend with him later. Nicolas is turning 2! Next week he will be another year older. And this is what is bittersweet. I feel like the last 2 years have flown by. I have been going to school and I will be finishing up this semester, and will have to go to work. I am not complaining, but I do dread leaving Nicolas during the day. He is so attached to me, obviously since it is just me and him when dad's at work. (Good news about that as well!) He hates when I even leave the room, and really shows it. But with him going to start preschool next year, it is necessary for him to learn that I cannot always be with him. It just has to be that way. We aren't doing a party for his birthday. Quite frankly, money is just too tight for us to do that. The extra money we do have, I would like to spend on birthday presents, or a big birthday present, instead of feeding other people, who really don't care to be there anyway. So for his birthday, we are having a dinner here, his favorite, and a cake for us, and the weekend following, there is a HUGE festival where everyone gets together and goes downtown and does crafts, etc. He has LOVED everyone of these that we have been too, so we are going to have a family day out of it for him. Plus we are taking him to a football game, so that in it's own is the sh*t to him. :) The boyfriend got a promotion at work, meaning garunteed hours, and more pay. So this was great news. Considering the week that we have had, it was a huge ray of sunshine. We never get into fights, but when we do, it's usually huge. And one of those fights happened the other night. We are okay now, after talking it out, but it still made the week a not very good one. Weightloss Update: I haven't been able to hit the gym as much as I would like, but I am still making progress. I have lost another pound, and I feel pretty good. As said before, I wasn't worried about loosing so much weight, as I am about just feeling better. And I already am. :) I have so much on my to do list, that I can't even focus on one thing at a time. I have grad apps to fill out, which had to be postponed because the site was down, I have to update my resume, fill out applications, because if I can get a job, I'm going for it. So anyways, guess I should finish this off and head off to do that. :) xoxo; Jenn

Can't contain my excitement!!!

So the first of the week went well, started school and all...then Wednesday, this happens...

That's a creek at our house. My wonderful boyfriend put our BEAUTIFUL mustang into it. Now, I must explain that it was an accident. We forgot the trash to be put to the road for pickup so he noticed when he pulled off for work...then while he was getting it from behind the house, it popped out of gear and rolled down our road into the creek. It's mostly dried up, but there are a TON of rocks in it. Therefore, there is a pretty decent amount of damage on the bumpers. Mostly paint, but it buckled in the front at the bottom.

So then we took Nicolas to the baseball game that night before and Nicolas got two balls! But he got excited, threw one down the steps, stumbled and I had to grab his arm to keep him from breaking his face...okay, not breaking it, but getting hurt bad. And he ended up getting Nursemaids elbow...again. Basically this is a sprain to the elbow according to the docs. And he was playing that next night, and done it again after we were home from the ER. I popped it back in. But the doctor has concerns if it happens again that there maybe some developmental muscle issues.

Could our luck get any worse??

Not worse, but it did get better!!! I won a free portrait package from a studio. Worth $50. Great right?

BUT...the biggest thing of all...Brian's step-sister won tickets to see my all time fav. band, Avenged Sevenfold in DC...and she had 2 extra. And she is giving them to us!!! HOLY BEJEZZ can you believe it! I cannot contain my excitement. Brians dad is watching Nic for the night for us so we can go. I have been on pins and needles since I found out since I am so excited. :) YAY!!

So until next time, since I figured out how to post pics, a pic of my little man with his baseballs he got. He turns two in like 20 days...but that is another post all in itself. :)

Eyebrows...

I hate eyebrows.

Maybe I should say that I hate the upkeep of them.

I am one of those people who need to do something to them at least 2x a week.  And I have an avid hate for tweezers.  I hate to admit that I get them waxed and sometimes I just can't bring myself to mess with the horrid tweezers until the next time I get them waxed.

Insert embarrassment here! 

So I found a couple tips from friends that I am going to share and try myself. 

1)  Tweeze when you get OUT of the shower...not before.  I remember learning in one of my med classes when we were doing the skin chapters of text, that the pores open up with heat.  So if you do it when you are out of the shower, or use a hot rag on the area for a few, this should make it less painful to pull. 

2)  Use ice to numb the area.  I have been told to watch though, and not hurt by pulling the skin instead.  Ice can be a numbing agent, so sweep the ice on your brows for a minute and wipe the water off, and there ya go.

3) Pull in the direction of the hairgrowth.  This one, I have done and it definitely helps some.

Just don't overpluck...I know from experience, it can be a pretty ugly sight! 

If you have any tips or ideas, please let me know!  Maybe I can get myself into the habit of this and not be a big baby about it. :)  And let me know if you have tried any of them...I plan (just plan...not sure yet when!) to use these when I do mine again. 

Also, I apologize for not having any images. I am new to the blogging thing, and still am trying to figure things out. So if you have any tips for that, definitly let me know! =)

xoxo,
jen

Linking up!

Tuesday

So it's Tuesday if you couldn't tell by the title, and it has been pretty good so far.  I go up at 7 this morning, (well 6:45 if you count just laying there dreading to get up)  and got ready and hit the gym.  Did 400 calories on the eliptical...and it felt dang great!  So I just had to toot my horn a little bit for me saying that day 1 of my hopes in getting in early was a success.  But now, I must say that I am a little tired and trying to get through the morning.  This I know is due to staying up a little too late. 

The little man LOVES sports.  Pretty much any kind he has seen so far.  With the boyfriend liking sports too, (I think if he had his way, ESPN would be on ALL THE TIME!)  Nicolas well enough gets this from him.  I love sports too.  But I am a football girl.  Love it! With football season coming up, we love to watch the games, and I am getting really excited.  So anyways, we also keep up with baseball.  We took Nic to the minor league game the other week for the first time, and he LOVED it!  All we heard was ball! With Summer coming to an end, the local minors are doing a promotion with our paper where there was 1 free coupon per paper for a free ticket.  With our paper, and the neighbors who generously gave us their coupons, we are going tonight...for a grand total of .75!  (Which was the cost of the paper.)  How great is that?!?  So that is our plans for tonight.  A good family outing.  Pair that up with Kids Tuesdays at Firehouse subs, and we are going to get a game and a dinner for under $10! 

School started yesterday, and I had my first class, and it went pretty well.  It was my last first day of school.  At least until I decide that I really want to go back for my RN.  But that is another post. :)

Mondays...

I hate Mondays.  For several reasons.  I have Brian all to myself all weekend and its time for him to go to work for the week.  Yuck.  And today especially,  school started back.  For me.  It is my last semester and as excited as I am, all I have really done is read my syllabi and I am already overwhelmed.  I have class tonight and I already have those first day jitters.  But, at least everyone else is in the same boat. 

I should be organizing my school stuff, but procrastination has kicked in.  And it is the first day.  lol.  I have the house cleaned, 3 loads of laundry done and my computer just got a clean up.  haha. 

I have decided to go to the gym about 3-4 days a week.  If my dream schedule works out, I am hoping to go before the boyfriend wakes up and the little man.  I can go there during the day when they have child watch, but the way Nicolas throws a fit...I would kinda rather do it then.  I did it Saturday and it was great.  Hopefully I can keep it up.

I went and worked out the past 2 days, and took today off so I could get my school stuff organized(which is what I am going to work on soon!)  Each day I worked on the eliptical, and felt great.  I recently bought a mp3 player for when I worked out and I got it in the mail Sat and used it Sunday and went 11!! minutes straight.  This is a huge accomplishment for me.  I usually can't walk around the block without getting out of breath.  So I was really happy with myself.  Saturday I burnt 310 calories and yesterday I burnt 400.

When I started this blog, I was determined to be open with all my weight loss issues.  I weighed myself yesterday and weighed 268 lbs.  I am so embarrassed to say that.  But I am working on it.  Hopefully this number will grow stronger.  My goal is to lose 10 lbs.  I don't want to overshoot and say I want to lose 40 lbs, so 10 lbs is going to be my short term goal. :) 

So with that, off I go to finally get my stuff organized while the little man is occupied with his toys.

xoxo;

Jenn

Pretty Proud...

Here I sit again with the little man as we watch Spongebob, and can't help but to procrastinate cleaning.  So I will at least get one goal done and post this. :)

Went to the gym today and worked out...but leaving Nic wasn't as well as my workout was.  He cried...LOUD.  And took him 15 mins to calm down.  I always get nervous about leaving him anywhere.  Yes, even with Grandparents.  My mom is sick, and Brian's mom...well, we don't exactly...how should I say it...bond.  No, we clash.  She is always somehow slipping in insults to me.  Most of the time it is about the way I raise our child.  Or how we are waiting a couple years to have another.  We have been in a few tangles, and it's always been tension between us.  So I don't like for Nicolas to go over there.  He becomes a HELLION when he comes home because he doesn't get disciplined over there, and I don't agree with that.  So we don't let him go often, and often, I hear that I hover too much, or I need to let him get out.  HES 2! He needs discipline and schedule, which he doesn't get there, and why am I going to send him if not? So that is my rambling on for today. :)

So anyways, I rode the stationary bike for 3 miles, but only burned 70 calories.  Seriously?  That took me 12 minutes.  I do the elliptical and burn 100 calories in 10 minutes.  So I think I will stick to that.  I haven't been weighing myself yet but I plan to get a scale.  The one they have at the Y is one of the manual ones, and I really don't like those. :)  (I'd rather take the easy way and let the scale do the work for me...HA) 

So we (Nicolas, Brian, and myself) live with my mom in a 2 bedroom.  It is rather cramped.  So I have been determined to get the most of our space lately.  We plan to get our own place, but right now, it is just not practical.  We don't live here for free, I wouldn't do that.  But we definitly don't pay as much as we would with our own place.  Brian is the only one working, while I go to school and it works out really well that way.  I was working but it got to the point to where I would only see my family less time that I wanted.  They are too important for me to miss so much.  So that's our choice.  I can live with it and Nic can definitly live with having his MawMaw here everyday. :)

We have this awkward space in our bedroom, which we share with Nic, so we decided to make it a play corner for him.  Its like an extra cubby hole so to say.  It used to have storage totes with all of his older clothes, but we have put them into our closet and this makes it 10x better in the room.  I love it! 

School starts Monday, and it is my last semester!! Woo! I guess I am kinda dreading it though.  It takes a lot of time.  I am doing one class at school and 3 online.  It'll work out though.  :)

An Introduction...

So I originially started this blog for myself to document all of my son's first years, but never really got around to doing it.  I am determined to start. Now.  There is a lot of changes happening and hopefully...no, I will keep up with it. 

I want this blog to be about my whole life, not just my son.  Now, I could go all day about him, and would love to, but, I just have so much other stuff going on.

Let me tell you about myself.  I am a stay at home mommy, and a full-time student.  This is where all my time goes.  Nic is 23 mos. old, and a handfull.  He gets into everything.  We are introducing the potty to him for a few months now, and I think it may go into active training soon.  And he is still addicted to the pacifier.  Horrible, I know.  But we are working on it.  And I think we can get it gone soon.  I go to school full time and this is my last semester!! So I am so excited but I am dreading trying to find a job.  I have put in a few apps, but no word yet.  I kinda want to just stay home with him now, and focus.  This is where my amazing fiance comes in.  He works all that he can, and lets me stay at home.  Let me reword that.  He doesn't LET me, but he doesn't mind.  It makes more sense anyways.  For the cost of daycare would be all my checks would go to if I were working.  And it will be a trade off.  He is going back to school when I get done.  He wants to better himself and I am all for it.  We live with my mom and once we both get out of school, we will look into buying our own place.  It is just not practical right now. 

So now, to my most recent endevour...

I have recently started going to the Y and working out.  I have done it the past two days, but took a break off today, because I really am sore.  And...I think I am getting sick.  So I am just not feeling up to doing anything but laying here in bed.  I know I can't lay here all day, but I am going to lay here with the little man while he watches a movie.  But back to the gym.  I want to lose weight.  I want to be active with my son.  I am active for the most part, but I really am not in great heatlth.  I need to lose weight.  I am a big girl, and I am tired of it.  I look at it this way...even if I lose 5 pounds, that's 5 pounds less than before.  I am SO excited about this.  They have a child watch so I can take Nic there, and let him play with the TONS of toys they have and make new little friends, while I work out.  My problem is more in the eating area.  I don't like a lot of foods, and the foods that I do like, aren't very healthy.  And I am an emotional eater.  BIG time.  If I am stressed, I tend to eat.  Or sad, or mad.  I have gotten better at realizing this, but it still tends to be a problem.  I have always been the big girl, and I think that's why I am not "flipping" out about it, but it is time for a change.  Hopefully by documenting it, I will be more likely to stick to it. 

I love crafts, and organization.  So I will be posting about my adventures in those areas as well. 

So there is most about me...You will learn more I am sure, but for now, I must say goodbye and put that dreaded load of laundry up. :)