Fightin' the Frump

Well, it's Friday again, and you know what that means. I've been ruminating for days on what my Frump Fighting strategy for this week could be.

I decided on a recap post, with links to some of the participants of the last few weeks listing all the things I've learned.

Sorry, I've got a couple of ideas, but I haven't had time to do pictures yet, and it just wouldn't be the same without pictures.

Join Fussy on Fridays, do your part to fight the frump.

Thursday Thirteen

I decided to give the Thurday Thirteen a try - I've read a few, and I always find them interesting. Not sure I can promise the same about mine, but I'm gonna give it a shot. I couldn't think of a "topic" so I'll just go with random - Since I'm fairly new to the bloggin world, and no one really knows me.

THIRTEEN things about me.

1. I've been working on a '100 things' post for a few weeks. So far it looks like this:
1.
2.
3.

2. I have been unable to pass my math class for school, because I cannot grasp the concepts of Statistics. I have two books and several online instruction programs. It just doesn't make sense to me.

3. I had completely given up on finding "The one", the person i would spend the rest of my life with until I met Budman, and even then, he had to chase me a little while. Not that I didn't like him, but I had decided that I was done looking, and it would just be me and my kids from now on.

4. I'm glad I changed my mind. I don't know how I lived without him for all those years before we met.

5. I truly beleive that "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." If I hear political ads where a candidate is talking trash about his opponent, I tend to mentally mark that candidate off my list.

6. If something funny/interesting happened to me, and I wanted to tell someone about it, first I will tell and retell the story in my head, almost practising it before I get to that person to tell them about it.

7. If I'm in my car, I will do this out loud.

8. I was saving this for my 100 things, but I have ELABORATE lottery fantasies. ELABORATE (did I say that?) I have everything planned out to the smallest detail. What I will do, what I will buy, who I will call, who I will hire, etc... It's constantly being changed, revised, updated.

9. I am convinced that #8 makes me crazy. Come to think of it, #'s 6 and 7 don't exactly make me look sane...

10. I am almost incapable of cooking something without a recipe. Budman can walk into the kitchen and create, but I must have a recipe and follow the instructions. I will rarely deviate from the recipe, and if I don't have an ingredient that is on the list, I will most likely abandon the attempt and find something else to make.

11. Speaking of Budman, he can taste food, and tell me what's in it. If I put too much baking powder in my cake, for example (This has actually happened). I think he's a freak - Who can actually TASTE baking powder?

12. I do not have any IRL friends outside of my family. I am friendly with my co-workers, but I do not have a single friend that I call on the phone or go do things with who is not related to me.

13. I'm OK with that.



http://www.thursdaythirteen.com/

Wordless Wednesday - More sleep related posting

Visit Wordless Wednesday for more!!

Weekend Update - and more

This weekend was wonderful. The weather was beautiful. Saturday, we stayed home (Budman let me sleep in!) We watched cartoons with the kids until noon. I spent a good bit of time on the computer doing my school work. At 4:00, Nana & Papo B showed up to take the boys to spend the night at their house (ALL THREE BOYS!!!!!). So Budman and I were free of the children and what did we do? Worked on our computers and watched a movie: In the Valley of Elah. This could have been a really good movie. It could have been, but it wasn’t.

Sunday, Budman let me sleep in AGAIN! We went to my mother’s house to pick up the boys, and we all went out to lunch at Babe’s, which is some of the Best Fried Chicken in the South (See, I didn’t make that up!). Back to Mom’s house, where Mom and I looked through old photos (I keep thinking I need to get them scanned so that I can share them with you – Some of them are pretty funny!). I can’t tell you how many times that day I said “What was I thinking?” The guys all headed upstairs to check out my step-dad’s new media room and surround sound. Budman and Mater were napping in no time flat, so Monkey came and looked at pictures with us, and then conned talked Papo B into playing outside. Possum stayed upstairs and watched the movie – and probably enjoyed the moments spent without a little brother crawling on him. We ended up getting home a little late, but it was worth it. So that was our weekend.

Monday marked the first official day of Budman’s promotion, and his our new hours. We have to get up about an hour and a half earlier in the morning, but when I pulled into the driveway at 5:30 last night, instead of 7:30 or 8:00, I KNEW the earlier hours were WELL worth it. It was still light outside, the kids were playing in the backyard, and began screaming and crowding around the car waiting for us to get out. I think they were just shocked to see us in the daylight hours. The temperature was up into the 80s yesterday, so we had both the time AND the weather to play outside. There was basketball and bike riding and general running around like crazy. We all got to sit down to dinner at a decent hour, and we all ate together!

Yeah, this new work schedule is gonna work out just fine.

Contest Entries - I CAN'T help myself!

Stephanie is giving away a Watkins Easter Gift Basket. I WANT IT! To enter, blog about the contest, them make sure you let her know where to look! OR, you can order Watkins products from her and be automatically entered. Hurry - you only have until March 8th.

Next, Midlife Mom is having a giveaway to celebrate her 250th post! (Congrats, Midlife!). There are two giveaways: One for horse lover and one for "you more sane people that aren't obsessed with the big 4 legged creatures" (Her words, not mine.) I actually ADORE horses, but since I don't have any, I'm hoping I win the Cookbook!

Hop on over and take a look!

Beauty Sleep: Fighting the frump

Before I get to Fighting the Frump with Fussy today, I wanted to point out (For anyone who cares) that I have FINALLY posted the before and after haircut photos that a few of you everyone requested from last weeks Fight the Frump. Please check them out, and tell me what you think how much you love the new 'do!.

Thank you - And without further ado...

Fight the Frump with the Fabulous Mrs. Fussypants!! (& me)

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Beauty sleep.

I need it. Desperately.

I’ve read so many interesting facts today about the benefits of a full night’s sleep – and the consequences of deprivation. Even denying yourself one hour a night for a week can lead to decreased speed in reaction time, mathematical problem solving (although, let’s face it – most of us don’t do a lot of mathematical problem solving everyday) and “cognitive work requiring simultaneous focus on several tasks”. In other words, you won’t be able to walk and chew gum at the same time when driving, for example, accidents increase as your total sleep decreases. Missing out on three hours per night for a week can show a marked decrease in speed and accuracy.

Good nutrition and exercise are important for our health and beauty, but sleep is crucial, too. Sleeping provides your body with more than just rest. When we are sleeping, our body is healing and repairing itself. Experts say that you need eight hours of sleep a night. This helps prevent a washed out complexion, puffy bloodshot eyes and dark under eye circles (like the permanent ones living on my face). Getting enough sleep also helps ensure that you will have peak alertness and energy.

A good night’s rest has always been called beauty sleep—and it is no myth. New research shows that individuals who are not sleep deprived have an increased capacity to lose weight and keep it off. Poor sleeping habits also cause you to age at an accelerated rate, both physically and metabolically.

LOSE WEIGHT? Did they just say lose weight? I'm listening!

I read the reasons. A good night’s sleep reduces stress levels, which reduces the stress hormone cortisol, and there's something there about ashwagandha and phosphatidylserine, blah, blah blah. The point is who CARES how it works, as long as it works??

More wonderful things about beauty sleep:

Studies show that skin cells regenerate slightly faster at night than during the day. All the more reason to make sure you get your beauty sleep. Here's another tidbit of information.

Cosmetic chemists know, for example, that many anti-aging ingredients stay active longer when they're not exposed to sunlight. Retinoids, which speed cell turnover, "can break down chemically with light exposure and become ineffective," says Julian Omidi, MD, a dermatologist in private practice in Los Angeles. Other "anti-agers"-- such as topical vitamins, including C and E--don't hold up well in sunlight or air. They're in both day and night skin care products, but you probably get more antioxidant bang for your buck when you apply them before you go to sleep.

YAY! Considering how much some of those products cost, more bang for your buck is a good great thing.

What we all know is that, with a good night's sleep, everything looks and feels better in the morning. Both the brain and the body are refreshed and ready for a new day.

Here are three beauty tips for skin care in your sleep to add more beauty to your sleep:

Sleep flat on your back: Smashing your face into a pillow creates fold lines that eventually become permanent if they're repeated every night. Spending time on your back also helps counter the effects of gravity that accumulate during the day. In a recent study of 38 women and men, Japanese researchers found there was greater wrinkling in the afternoon than in the morning; they concluded that the face literally falls with gravity as the day progresses. At night, you get a chance to reverse that.

Stay hydrated: "Keeping skin moist from the inside out is a simple, relatively inexpensive, and quite effective moisturizer," says Pinnell. Drink six to eight glasses of plain water throughout the day and include omega-3 fatty acids (found in fish and nuts) in your diet, says Dale Prokupek, MD, a Beverly Hills internist and an associate professor of gastroenterology and nutrition at UCLA. To help avoid moisture loss from the skin while sleeping, turn on a humidifier. "I used one in my bedroom for a dry throat problem and soon realized my skin never looked better," he says. (Be sure to clean the humidifier often, especially if you're prone to allergies.)

Use a moisturizer after bathing: Seal in the moisture that the topmost layer of your skin has absorbed with a hydrating body lotion or cream. Because you're going to bed--not pulling on a silk blouse or cashmere sweater--you can try a body cream that's richer than you would feel comfortable wearing during the day, such as Nivea Body Renewal Night Cream ($10; drugstores). Just before bed is a perfect time to slather your feet--especially dry heels--with a healing, hydrating cream such as Aveeno Intense Relief Foot Cream ($6; drugstores). And a sweep of Sally Hansen Beyond Perfect Healing Cuticle Oil ($5; drugstores) on your nails will keep the cuticles soft and prevent tears. For a final moisturizing touch, massage your hands with Dove Regenerating Hand Cream ($6; drugstores). (** I have not personally tried these products, and have heard neither good nor bad things about them or their performances)

The following simple tips are helpful for sound sleep:

• Create a bedtime routine. Make an effort to rearrange the pattern of your evenings.



• Limit your tea and coffee intake to five or six cups a day, and don’t drink any within an hour of your bedtime.
  
• You spend a sizeable time of your life sleeping, so don’t economize on the mattress and bed you choose. Buy the best. Always use cotton bed sheet while sleeping and your pillows should give enough support to your weary head. Wear loose cotton dress while going to bed.
  
• Allow yourself a clear half hour to unwind, bathe, have a warm milk, cleanse your face, brush your hair and teeth – that way, you’ll prepare yourself mentally for sleep. Cleanse your face every night no matter how tired you are with a gentle cleanser.
  
• Close your eyes and breathe in very deeply, concentrate on the days pleasant happenings.
  
• Relax all your muscles, simple meditation techniques helps in inducing sleep.
  
• If your mind seems to be obsessed with any particular problem and keeps reverting to it, try remembering the happy memories. Listen to music.
  
• Try taking a gentle walk after dinner. Vigorous exercise late at night is not good, but a quiet stroll can get you in the mood for sleep.
  
• Try having at least one early night every week when you’re in bed by 10 at the latest.

Oh, and an added bonus: Children learn what they see. Set a good example for your kids. Show them just how important a good night sleep is for them! http://www.sleepforkids.org/

As promised- Before & After Pictures

Better late than never

Here we go!

BEFORE: UGH - Frumpy, frumpy!!

AFTER:

I have several pictures, I couldn't seem to find a really good one. I took a few more myself last night, but surprisingly, the best one was taken by Monkey before I put the little ones to bed last night. What does it say that my almost 6yo takes better photos than anyone else??

Anyway, here we go!!

(<--- This is the one Monkey took - I like it best)

I take horrible pictures - I do not understand why.

These were taken the day after the haircut, but I didn't like them, so I took the other pictures last night.

Obviously, I don't look like the movie stars I posted on Friday, so no need to point out the obvious.

Oh - and if anyone has a Frump fighting idea for combatting a double chin, I would LOVE to hear it. (Double chin?? really?? at 33?? Life is so not fair.)

Wordless Wednesday

Visit Wordless Wednesday for more pictures.

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I PROMISE - Pictures of the new haircut tomorrow.

Is it sad that I realized today that not only have I not uploaded pics of the haircut from almost two weeks ago, but I still have CHRISTMAS pictures on there still.

i suck.

Fightin' the Frump with Hot-Mama Hair!!

Hello! Once again, I'm fighting the frump with the Fabulous Mrs. Fussypants today.

This week, I was supposed to have a wonderful de-frumping post with before and after photos. Unfortunately, I forgot to upload the photos from my camera to the computer, and email them to myself at work. Terrific. So, I'm going to have to TELL you about it, and post the pictures this evening (I hope!!).

Saturday, I decided to follow the advice of a few of last weeks Frump Fighters and went and got my hair cut. I got a swing bob. VERY short - No more ponytails for this girl. All my scrunchies have been rendered useless. When I got home from the salon, Budman said "Hi! I'm Budman, I'm sorry, you have to leave - my wife will be home soon." LOL!! Sunday I did a little of the hair dyeing. I've been getting compliments all week - and I'm feeling FABULOUSLY de-frumpified (is that a word?)

I've been trying to find a picture of a swing bob, and I've had no luck (never mind that I'm SUPPOSED to be working) so picture Victoria (Posh Spice) Beckham's hair (only not anorexic). I swear I'll post the pictures this evening!! (No, I don't honestly think I even remotely resemble Posh Spice, but I've been unable to find a picture of my hair on someone else!) Although, Budman (and one other person) compared it to Jamie Lee Curtis, so I guess maybe I look like this:



Although, I would rather look like this:


Ooh! Maybe I look like this!! Only - blonder..



Or maybe this: (also blond-er)


Maybe not...

This is kinda fun - I may never post the actual photos!!

Join Fussy today with your own Fight the Frump hints!

Have a great day!


***EDIT: I forgot the best thing - well, things, actually. Saturday, I stopped off at the corner store on the way home, to pick up some Dr. Pepper and some beer for the gathering we were having the next day, and the old man at the Gas Station, who sees me at least 4 times a week, didn't recognize me and MADE ME SHOW MY ID!!!!! Yeehaw!

Bet the bestest best thing, is that my hair is SO SUPA EASY to style! I thought I was gonna have to tear the house apart to find my blowdryer and my curling iron, and you know what? I didn't! I just bought some hair gel and some hair spray, and I'm good to go! (And not in a Frumpy way, like I used to)

Obligatory Valentine Post

Valentine’s Day, as a general rule, sucks. Well, it used to. As a young girl, I was ALL about Valentine’s Day. As a result, it built up into this THING, this magical day, that couldn’t possibly live up to the expectation, the Hallmark & jewelry store commercials. When you set your hopes that high, there is no where to go but down. One year, I actually phoned my (now ex)husband from work and said “If there is not a Valentine’s Day present waiting for me when I get home, we are getting a divorce”. There was a bag of candy, a coffee mug with flowers, but I saw on the receipt that he ran to Albertson’s AFTER I threatened him - and I had to threaten him with divorce to get him to bother. It still sucked. It took me a long time to stop expecting so much on what should be just another day!

I should say that Budman is very good at Valentine’s Day, as well as Birthdays and Christmas, and just making me feel special and loved everyday. He’s really good at it. In fact, I think he may not be human.

It's funny, I think the meaningless gestures were more important back when I was in relationships where I wasn't cherished enough - as if that would somehow mean they loved me more. Now that I am - Valentine's Day truly is just another day.

This year, we will be having our Thursday dinner out. (This as you may have gathered by the name, is something we do most every Thursday.) Budman said that since it was Valentine’s Day, I could pick anywhere I wanted to have dinner this time, but since EVERYTHING will be crowded, I told him I would just as soon go to the place we (almost) always go on Thursday. Nothing special, but I’m alright with that.

A few valentines-related posts:

Amber at Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck recalls a less than stellar Valentine's experience

For a different kind of girl discusses Valentine's expectations

FTN has a The Big Honkin Valentine's Day Post

ihavetosay has her V-Day posts here and here

Cindy at Skip to my Lou has awesome Valentine ideas here

And last, but not least, these are the Valentines that Monkey and Mater are taking to school tomorrow. Thanks to Michelle at Scribit for this terrific idea!

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And completely unrelated to Valentine's Day at all, I just LOVE LOVE LOVE this Lego table that was created by Josie. I think the idea of making our own table instead of buying one from Lego Rocks!

Better late than never!

I just found out today - mod*mom is having a Valentine's Giveaway.

There are some fabulous prizes. I'm entered, head on over and check it out!

Bloggers Block

I need time to organize my thoughts in to a post. I don't have time. I'm writing this during my "lunch hour" and it won't be long, and it won't include any of the 1 million things I thought to write about since Friday.

So, I guess today, I have a question for those who blog. How do YOU prepare your thoughts? Do you write them down throughout the day? Do you have a flawless memory? (If so, you've likely never had children) Or do you just fly by the seat of your pants, writing whatever comes to mind? I'd like to hear your thoughts on the matter...

This weekend, We did laundry, yard work, watched movies, visited with family and played with the birds. Also, I got my hair cut. So now, I will have a post for Friday. It's cute, and hopefully I will post pictures as well. The children had some cute reactions, and I will include those Friday, so as not to give anything away!

Have a great day.

Friday - 1st ever Fight the Frump!

Hey there! I'm fighting the frump with the Fabulous Mrs. Fussypants today. I've mentioned Fussy before, of course, and her blog is a *can't miss* for me everyday.

I'm having a difficult time admitting this, but...

I'm Frumpy.

There I said it. I racked my brain long and hard this morning to think of SOMETHING that I could contribute to the first ever Fight the Frump. Finally, it hit me.

I think my main source of frumpiness (is that a word?) is my pack-rat tendencies. My mother (who is not the least bit frumpy at all and tries her best to de-frump me when possible) has a rule: When you buy a new item of clothing, you MUST get rid of one old article of clothing. This is a rule that I have to follow whether we go shopping together or she's bought me clothes for my birthday.

It's a rule that I'm quite awful at following - although I'm getting better. I recently went through all the clothes in my closet, and discovered some REALLY awful pieces that I've had since my first child was born, college or even high school. I'm quite ashamed to admit this, although I did throw away/donate several boxes of crap outdated clothes and shoes, and kept only those things that a) I knew that I would wear, and b) that I SHOULD wear. I still have a long way to go, but I'm on my way. \

So, here is my tip: Throw out items that are old, outdated or worn. (Stained goes without saying - right? Although I have kept one UGLY t-shirt that hangs in my closet for dying my hair doing messy jobs around the house.) If you buy something new, get rid of something old. This assures that you have room in your closet for those supa-fab (to quote Fussy) new things you've just brought home, and of course, you will be doing your part to Fight the Frump.

Join Fussy today with your own Fight the Frump hints!

Contest at 5 Minutes for Mom

5 Minutes for Mom is having a contest! I do love contests. They are giving away an Oreck XL.

I REALLY need a new vacuum cleaner. I had a Hoover that I loved - It served me well for almost 13 years. Alas, my hair finally killed it my beloved Hoover finally sucked it's last breath this past summer, and I am currently without a vacuum. (Don't panic, I do vacuum, I just don't count Budman's SHOPVAC as HAVING a vaccuum cleaner.)

Anyway, head on over to enter the contest. All you have to do is leave a comment and post about the contest, linking to their site. And if you don't have a blog, you can still enter, just head on over for the details.

Have a great Thursday.

Not gonna feel guilty

I've been trying not to feel guilty about going almost a week without a new post, but I did promise myself that I wouldn't.

I've got a zillion ideas, but nothing that I've been able to turn into a post.

So, Random musings for today.

Monkey is participating in his school's Jump Rope for Heart event this week. They make it so easy to raise money - I set up a website for him and sent emails to all our family. My family rocks! That boy has already raised $125.00! He's "so 'cited" and has already begun work on his Thank you notes.

I noticed this morning, that my AdSense thingy at the bottom of the page said "Girls with no Underwear" I'm pretty sure that's not what I had in mind when I signed up.

Budman has been training the new guy at work this week, so that he can FINALLY move into his new position. Did I mentione FINALLY!?!?! He was promoted in December, and they've been dinking around with hiring someone so long, I started to get angry. So, hopefully, in one more week, my man will once again be happy with his job.

Mine, on the other hand, has been less than wonderful lately. My boss called a little meeting last week, where we discuss "Where we are" (We call these our "Where we Are" meetings - duh). I proceed to let her know "where I was" and how far behind I am due to all the new duties I've been given lately. Her answer? A new project, that will provde me with EVEN MORE WORK.
I'm thrilled. No, really. So, I've been on the verge at least 10 times a day since then. I'm haging in there - for now.

I had about a zillion other post ideas, and I can't remember any of them now.

I'll leave you with a cutsie from Mater while he was playing some sort of airplane bombing game the other day: "Bombs in the way!"