2012 FAVES!

It's been a really long time since I've linked up with Mama Kat for her weekly writer's workshop, but I'm jumping back in today!

Today we're gonna talk about 10 of my favorites of 2012.

Favorite 2012 Movie: Um, HELLO, Magic Mike? Okay, so I don't go to the movies very often, but I did see this one and I did like it (obviously)! However, I didn't like all the hoopla surrounding it.

The Lucky One was really good. I love Nicholas Sparks & I've liked all of his books turned movies so far. I was surprised with this movie because I didn't think that Zac Efron would be a good fit, but boy was he ever! I have to say though that Rise of the Guardians was my absolute favorite - and it's a kids movie.

Favorite Album: Blake Shelton Red River Blue

Favorite Song: Miranda Lambert Over You (Ironic that this song came on just moments ago? hmm) This song touches my heart every time I hear it and reminds me of someone I loved so much but lost too soon.

Favorite Tweeter: Confession: I just started using Twitter heavily towards the end of 2012. Even now, I don't spend a lot of time on there. No favorite tweeters! Follow me, @Frugal_finds

Favorite Blog: There are three blogs that I read A LOT in 2012 and will continue to read in 2013. These ladies inspire me to keep on blogging (among other things), make me laugh, and they are sweethearts too.

Unsweetened Coco (formerly From Nanny To Family)

Because Shanna Said So

Confessions of a Semi Domesticated Mama

Favorite TV Show: Oh my, this is where you learn that I watch too much t.v.! I'm still hooked on my old favorites - Grey's Anatomy & Private Practice (this is the LAST season, boo!). However, my two favorite new shows this year are ABC's Nashville and A&E's Duck Dynasty. Those shows make me happy, happy, happy! 

(If you don't watch Duck Dynasty, then you didn't get that! lol)

Favorite Instagramer: Confession: I've only been using IG for a few months and the only reason I started was because Lindsay practically begged me! Okay, maybe begged isn't quite right, but she is the reason I signed up and now I love it. I still don't have a favorite IG'er though. Follow me, @Unlikelystar

Favorite Moment: Taking our kids to the Texas Hill Country for the first time. It's mine & my husband's favorite place and now that we know the kids love it just as much, we will be spending a lot more time there as a family.

Favorite Conference: Well, since I only went to one this year...

The Houston Blogger Symposium! 

Favorite Viral Video: *SIGH* Am I boring or what? I'm not a YouTube, video watchin' kinda gal! If someone recommends something to me, I will check it out, but that doesn't happen much!

What are some of your favorites from 2012?

A Big June To-Do!

I've been totally slacking in the blogger department lately and it's also been awhile since I joined in on Mama Kat's Writer's Work Shop; when I saw the prompts this week I knew that it was the perfect time to jump back in.

The first prompt is 10 To Do's in June. Since I'm one hell of a list maker (although I lack in the follow through department) I knew this one was perfect for me!

So, without further adieu...

1) Lose 10 pounds. 

I'm currently at my highest not-pregnant weight EVER. This is not cool. I was doing really well with regular diet & exercise until my car accident. My doctor told me to refrain from working out while I was undergoing treatment for my injuries. Um, sure Doc, you're not gonna have to twist my arm! While this has been good for my lazy bone, it hasn't been good for my figure. Now that I've been released by my doctor to resume normal exercise, Momma's gonna get her sexy back! 

2) Get signed up for the 2013 Ticket Sales Committee for the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. 

 I live in Houston and round here the HLSR is a BIG deal. It's been a huge part of my life for about as long as I can remember and I've always wanted to volunteer to work the rodeo. Not only is it for a seriously great cause, but let's face it, the perks are AMAZING. In the past I was worried about not being able to commit myself to the amount of time it takes to do the job right, but this year the time is finally right!! So y'all keep me in mind if you find yourself needing some tickets to the rodeo!!

3) Make New Friends, Online & Off.

 I'm awful when it comes to making new friends; I'm so quiet and shy around new people. It's so awkward especially since I'm generally neither shy nor quiet. However, I'm trying to put myself out there more. I've recently joined two mommy groups that host play dates just about every day of the week. This will get both the kids & myself out more often and socializing with new people. It's great for me to converse with someone over the age of 4 and it's great for the kids to socialize and wear themselves out before nap time :) 

I'm also looking forward to connecting with other bloggers & readers online.

4) Get A Tan.

It's summer y'all, and it is hot. And I don't like the heat. I don't like being outside, sweating like a dirty pig, 10 seconds after I've showered. This makes it difficult for me to get a tan unless I fake bake. I love a cozy tanning bed. Just not in the summer, cause it's hot in there and then it's hot outside too. Then I'm still a big ball of sweat. Looks like I'm gonna be spending a a lot of time in the pool this summer (keep cool + get a tan)...Unless I want to keep looking like Casper...

5) Get Organized.

Yea, like that is gonna happen. Moving On.

6) Get Back In My Blogging Groove.

Totally slacking on this front lately and it's bugging the crap out of me. I have the longest list of things I want to write about it and I'm running out of room both on paper and in my head. I need to hash some of these ideas out and hit the "publish" button!

7) Organize an Ad Swap For July.

I'd really like to get an ad swap going with other bloggers in time for July. Anyone interested? Email me!

8) Spend Less Time On Social Media & More Time With My Kids.

I constantly feel like I'm trying to catch up. On Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest. The madness Has Got To Stop! 

It's way more fun hanging out with my kids anyway. Usually...

9) Plan An Awesome Night for My Upcoming Anniversary!

McHubby & I are celebrating 5 years on July 1st! Five years is a huge milestone in my opinion and I want to do something special to celebrate. I have a few ideas but I haven't made any concrete decisions yet...Any tips??

And now for my most easily attainable goal yet...

10) Drink.More.Wine.

©..And They Call Me Mommy,2012. 

A Promise.

 

The weather has been beautiful around here the last few days, about as beautiful as it gets; highs in the mid 80s, no humidity, light winds.  

Okay, I promise not to talk to you about weather today.

ANYHOW, I figured we should soak up some sun outside while it was still tolerable so McHubby & I took the kiddos to the park yesterday afternoon. I was pretty surprised to see it deserted. 

I was really hoping the kids would wear themselves out run and play but all they wanted to do was swing! So there we are, McHubby pushing the little guy and me pushing Miss Priss when she says to me, "Mom, I think it's time that I push YOU on the swing!" Ummm, okay, small fry, give it your best shot! Hey, I'm a good sport and if it gets me off the hook for a minute I'm in. 

"Mom, I will only push you if you promise to swing your legs back and forth so you will go really high." 

Don't you just love how she is making it sound like I asked her to push me??

"Sweetie, I PROMISE."

 ©..And They Call Me Mommy,2012. 

Interview with A Preschooler

 

I was feeling courageous last night so I took a walk on the wild side. I decided to ask my daughter, Addison, where babies come from. 

We've had conversations similar to this one before but they tend to change a bit each time. 

Here's how it went:

Me: "Hey Addison, can Mommy interview you?"

Addison: "Uh Huh."

Me: "Do you know what interviewing is?"

Addison: "Nuh uh. I do not."

Little brother walks in

Addison: "This is none of your business James, this is girl private business!!"

Me: "So, Addison, where do babies come from?"

Addison: "The hospital. And out of mommy's & daddy's tummies. 

Me: "How do babies get in tummies?"

Addison: "When someone gets big, bones get inside their tummy. Mommies go to the hospital and get the tops of tummies off and doctors take the bones out and put them together  and take skin and put it on the bones and then the babies come alive."

Me: "Where do doctors get the skin for the babies?" (It's getting a little creepy at this point)

Addison: "From the walls."

Me: "Do only mommies get big with babies?"

Addison: "No, mommies & daddies. 

Me: "How do the doctors get the bones out of the mommy or the daddy?"

Addison: "They take a needle and cut the top of the tummy off and put it to the side. And then they take the bones out."

Me: "What do the bones look like when they come out?"

Addison: "White, like your paper."

Me: "Are the bones big or small?"

Addison: "Mine are big but Buddy's (baby brother's nick name) are small."

Me: "Okay, so how do the doctors make the babies come alive?"

Addison: She thinks about it for a minute, stares up at the ceiling fan, then looks back at me and says, "I think they use a fan. They put it over the skin and bones and babies come alive and then the babies go home with the mommies and daddies.

She is 4. She is an expert on everything. Just ask her, she'll tell you!

This post is part of Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop.

©..And They Call Me Mommy,2012.

It DIDN'T happen at Disney!

I visited Disneyland when I was just 4 years old. I really don't remember it at all, just what I see in pictures. It looks like I had a really great time! 

I do however remember watching Disney movies all my life and I still do to this day. My kids even watch them with me, or uh, I mean I watch them with my kids!

Anyhow, I came across this awhile back and it REALLY got me thinking...

 It's funny right? It's also kind of true! If you really sit back and think about the things you did learn or could have learned from Disney movies, it's scary! Google "Disney Confessions" or "I blame Disney," go ahead, I'll wait!

Women tend to have such high expectations of love and relationships, not that we should have low expectations, but sometimes they are unrealistic. Where do these expectations come from? LOTS of people blame movies, celebrities, media, etc.

I participate in a weekly writer's workshop and this week one of the topics was "It happened at Disney." Like I said before, I don't have many memories of Disney, so I'm going to leave you with what DIDN'T happen at Disney. High expectations that have gone unmet. 

1) I did not have breakfast/lunch/dinner with the Princesses.

2) I did not have tea with the Mad Hatter, Alice, nor the Queen. 

3) I did not get engaged on Main Street USA while watching the fireworks.

4) I did not get married in Cinderella's castle. 

5) I did not meet the man of my dreams singing a love ballad to the birds. 

I did, however, meet Mickey Mouse, (See above), and in that very moment I"m sure that all my little girl dreams came true.

Editor's note: The aforementioned "expectations" are not real expectations that I held as a child, teenager, nor as an adult. However, had I stopped long enough to think about those things, they might have been.

©..And They Call Me Mommy,2012. 

My Bucket List Reversed - 10 Things I Never Want To Do

 

A list of 10 things I never ever want to do before I die. 

10. Jump from a perfectly good, still in the air, airplane.

9. Sink to the bottom of the ocean via a cruise ship.

8. Wrestle with a pit full of venomous snakes.

7. Ride cross country on a motorcycle (sorry hubby!).

6. Land in the Hudson river.

5. Fly to the moon.

4. Be a 'crazy cat lady'.

3. Have 20 kids & counting.

2. Be Famous.

1. Get locked up abroad.

What's your #1?


The post is part of a Writer's Workshop.

©..And They Call Me Mommy,2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to ..And They Call Me Mommy with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.