So Corny

I couldn't think of a better title for this post, especially being the topic is about corns. Yes, corns - the ones you get on your feet. Well, maybe not you in particular, but I dare to admit that I have corns. I have one on the bottom of each foot in the same exact spot, right on the middle of the ball (on that pad under my toes). My doc says I have bony feet and that the pressure I put on them causes these hard calluses. They can get pretty painful, but I have learned to deal with them, and file them down if need be. If you are grossed out now, so sorry! I keep it real here, people!

So anyways, I was skimming through a magazine and came across an article on how to remove corns. Apparently, you soak your feet in warm water for 20 minutes, then take a fresh pineapple and cut a square of the fruit to place on the corn. Take first-aid tape and tape the pineapple to your foot, put a plastic bag over your foot, then a sock, and leave on overnight. It may take 4 consecutive nights, but the combo of fruit acids and enzyme bromelain found in pineapple will cause the corn to fall right off.

Huh. Unfortunately, I can't stand sleeping in socks, let alone plastic bags and fruit taped to my feet! If anyone has tried this - does it actually work? I had never heard of such thing, nor do I plan on trying it. Oh, and for the record ... the feet in the pic are not mine. I don't walk around on rose petals around here. Found the pic on Yahoo Images. :o)

Lookin' for a good laugh?

Oh.My. You gotta go check out this awesome blogger I stumbled upon - Vodka Mom (I know - my kinda girl!!) is simply hilarious! I am lovin' her posts, right down to the labels she uses on the bottom of each one!! If only I could be this amusing ... LOL!!

Vacays ...

Hubby, aka: travel agent, has planned a few getaways for us this year. On the map ... Vegas for my b-day in April (woot! woot!), Victoria, B.C., Canada in June for his b-day, and another trip down to Palm Desert, California in October. Our family loves vacations. We save up each year and head out of town! The kids get so excited, and Tim and I love to travel.

Anyone else have any travel plans this year?

word verification ...

i am so over it. you no longer have to type in those retarded letters in order to leave comments. i figure that i am on my blog so much throughout the day (i know - i'm obsessed), i can weed through comments that are spam. which i have yet to receive anyways.
oh. and i added the 'follow me' feature on the side, so if you wanna keep track of me that way, you can.
hope everyone is having a great week! :o)

Loving this!

Saving up for this cute little ring!!

♥

Like Whoa!!

Wanna win a $250 gift card to Target?!? Of course you do!! Click on the little button to check out this incredible giveaway - follow the rules to enter!

Some of my favorites posts

Even More Complicated - a little controversy about my fave drink (you'll have to read all the comments, too)
Catching Up - pictures from our Cabo trip, gotta love vacation posts!

Driving Along In My Automobile - Tahoe + snow = oh no!

I.Just.Can't.Stop. - my love affair with donettes

Oh what a day ... - the things I say to my boys!

...Girls Weekend... - a weekend of shopping without my boys ... aaahhh!!

Skinny What?!? - seeking self help, ha!

I.Am.In.Love... - hubby got me a new camera!!

Makes me laugh every time - a fave YouTube clip ... too funny!!

The Mom Song

This is why I look forward to bedtime each and every night. LOL!

Gaining the pounds ...

Stumbled upon this sweet little blog from another ... check it out and enter this delicious giveaway!

Love these little guys

Another survey from Facebook ...

I am bending the rules and writing about BOTH my babies - I can't leave one out! :o)

Here you go mommies - a different kind of survey for a change - it's all about your first born! Just copy and paste it in a new note for yourself!

1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED? Both were planned - I am a planner!

2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME? Yep

3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS? So excited with both! I was shocked with my first because I got pregnant within 2 weeks of going off of birth control!

4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU? Never

5. HOW OLD WERE YOU? 22 with my first, 24 with my second

6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT? With my first, I never got a positive reading on the at-home tests, so my nurse gave me the exciting news after I did a urine test at my doctor's office. With my second, I peed on a digital stick, and my hubby made me wait for him to read the results ... PREGNANT.

7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? Tim was the first to know with both.

8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX? Oh yes! Again, I am a planner!

9. DUE DATE? First: February 9, 2004 Second: October 23, 2006

10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS? Not with my first ... with my second I had anytime sickness - morning, lunch, after dinner, in the shower, whenever. I never puked, just dry-heaved a lot! I also had hypoglycemia with my second ... had to watch my blood-sugar levels or I would experience migraines, dizziness, and blindness.

11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE? First: Lucky Charms, french toast, pizza rolls and Oreo cookies. Second: lemonade, chocolate, breadsticks with parmesan cheese and ranch.

12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? My bladder! Not being able to pee - my babies sat on it so I couldn't pee normal!!

13. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX? Both of my babies were BOYS!!

14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING? Oh No! Ask anyone my opinion on that matter ... I am a boy mom and was scared to end up with a girl! No divas for me, please!! LOL!

15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY? First time around I gained 50 pounds - I ate everything!! Second time, I learned from my first! I only gained about 35 pounds.

16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER? One big one for my first, and 2 for my second.

(not sure where question #17 went ... wasn't included)

18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR DELIVERY? First one almost got stuck and had his cord wrapped around his arm and neck, and I had to have an episiotomy because his head was too big for me. Second one came out quick - within a few pushes, but I had a jacked up epidural that took the doc 5 times to get it in right! Yes, 5 TIMES!!!!

19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH? First: Adventist Second: Providence

20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR? I labored all day with both - I was induced with both of them. Pushing times - first: 2 1/2 hours second: 10 minutes

21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL? Tim

22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH? I only allowed my hubby in with me, along with the professional staff that was required.

23. DID YOUR WATER BREAK NATURALLY? Nope - being induced, the doc does it for you.

24. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION? Natural with both.

25. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN? Heck yeah! You don't get any special awards for going natural, so why suffer? I would only allow the epidurals though. I didn't want any medications going to the baby.

26. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH? First: 7 pounds, 4 1/2 ounces Second: 6 pounds, 14 ounces

27. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN? First: On his due date, February 9, 2004 Second: On my gram's birthday, October 17, 2006

28. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER? Maddox Thomas and Sean Marcel

29. BIGGEST SURPRISE DURING CHILDBIRTH? It was surprisingly easy - how those babies came out of me was incredible!

30. GREATEST MEMORY ABOUT CHILDBIRTH? Seeing our babies for the first time and being so madly in love and in awe of them!! xoxo

31. DID YOU BREASTFEED? Nope - never even tried. Although when my milk came in both times, I probably could have fed triplets!

32. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY? Maddox is 5 years old and Sean is 2 years, 4 months.

33. WHO DOES HE/SHE LOOK LIKE? You can definitely tell that they both belong to me and my hubby, but Maddox looks more like me and Sean looks more like his daddy.

Now I am tagging all my mommy readers ... let me know if you re-post, I wanna see how your pregnancies went!! xoxo

Quick Dinner Idea

I threw this dinner together on Monday night and got rave reviews from the fam. I am sure this recipe is out in a cookbook somewhere, but I'd like to think I created this one myself. I don't have a fancy name for it, so let's just call it 'April's Chicken Dish'. Ha! Enjoy!

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts seasoned to taste with garlic and onion powders
3 normal size cans (10 3/4 ounces?) cream of mushroom soup
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese
1/2 cup milk (more or less depending on desired thickness of sauce)
2 boxes of chicken flavored Rice-a-Roni
corn

Bake seasoned chicken breasts at 400 degrees until cooked. On stovetop, mix cream of mushroom soup, cream cheese and milk until hot and bubbly (I cook on high heat, stirring constantly for faster results). Pour sauce over cooked chicken and continue baking for 15 minutes in 400 degree oven.
Prepare 2 boxes of Rice-a-Roni per box instructions and throw some corn on the stove (in a pot, not directly onto the range - duh!).
Easy and delicious.

Mangia!

afternoon entertainment

Apparently my pickiness (is that a word?) has caused some laughs (I love it!!). You can read my original post here, then be sure to read the comments on that post. After, check out this little dedication my friend, Emily, posted on her blog!!
Thanks for the smiles today, girls!! I am happy that I can be so amusing!! LOL!! Happy Tuesday!!

Ooooohh .... Aaaaaahh

Coach Corey Pump

So.Very.Cute

Even more complicated (edited)

A Warning To Any and All Starbucks Baristas Who May Assist Me:

Due to the menu changes throughout each Starbucks this year, my order has gotten a little bit more complicated. I know. As if it wasn't already complicated enough - but you guys changed it up and I have had to adjust.

My previous order of a Grande, non-fat, Green Tea Latte, no melon, 6 scoops matcha, add energy, add protein, 110 degrees, has been updated to the following:

Grande, non-fat, Green Tea Latte, no classic, 6 scoops matcha, add energy, add protein, 1/2 hot water, 1/2 milk, no specific temp.

And by the way, I am a Starbucks Gold member and get the 10% discount.

Thank you.

~~~

Oh you should see the looks I get when ordering! I try to be as sweet as possible and laugh it off as I order my high maintenance drink. I get eye rolls from fellow customers, and big sighs from over-worked employees, but hey! A girl knows what she wants! And it has taken me a long time to perfect my little cup-o-joy. Don't hate.

**Edit: Okay girls ... gotta get something straight! I am not high maintenance, just the drink is! Ha, ha!! That is probably the only thing about me that is high maintenance - I promise!!** LOL!!

Love Day

Flowers from my hubby

I know most people out there think that Valentine's Day is all hyped up ... a marketing holiday. But each year, my hubby and I make it a point to do something special. We take advantage of the day of love, go to a nice restaurant, and get eachother a little something to celebrate. Sure, we love each other just the same every other day of the year, but why not have an excuse for a fancy night out without the kiddos? Thank you Nana and Papa for babysitting!

Ruth's Chris Steakhouse with good friends

Sweet Tooth

Anyone else love Jordan Almonds? Picked myself up a bag of these little yummies this morning!

xoxo

Skin Care

Throughout the years, I have had pretty good skin (knock on wood). I haven't had to deal with major acne problems, probably due to the help of birth control, and my regimen has been pretty simple. I have never been into cleansers, but always have a tube of Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser in the shower for random use, along with Burt's Bees Peach and Willow Scrub. A good old wash cloth and warm water is usually the extent of my face cleansing. Then, afterwards, I always have to pre-treat for sneaky blemishes that could arise, and then moisturize. For years, I used Mary Kay products that my sister-in-law sold - the acne treatment gel, the basic moisturizer (number 2, I think), and the eye make-up remover.

About 6 months ago, I started having some issues with my skin. Dry, yet oily enough to cause clogged pores. I am not talking about zits and pimples here, just bumps across my forehead that really only I could see. From a distance, you couldn't tell, but up close - not so hot! On a particularly self-conscious day, I was venting to my salon girl, Tawny, while getting my eyebrows waxed. She started telling me about a skincare line that she carries in the store and also uses herself at home. I was a bit skeptical, because they are spendy little products, but after a few weeks of thinking it over, and no other products helping my issues, I decided to give this line a shot ... Dermalogica.
It took a few weeks of using the Overnight Clearing Gel, Active Moist Moisturizer, and exfoliating once a week, but my skin has been fantastic! I love the Dermalogica products and with the help of Tawny's discounts, the price is actually pretty reasonable for the results you get. My skin has re-normalized itself, and I am back to clear skin. If a random break-out occurs, I just spot treat with the Overnight Clearing Gel and within a day or so, the blemish is gone.

To find out what products are right for your skin, go to the Dermalogica website and take their skin questionnaire.

So Juicy

Spring is just around the corner and my favorite designer brand, Juicy Couture, is coming out with some oh-so-cute, gotta (eventually) have, new arrivals!

Baby Fluffy in Good Housekeeping
How cute is this purse?!? I have the bowler style bag right now in black, and I am starting to crave a new fun color for spring/summer. I am loving this size, too.

And these crop terry capris with snap-flap pockets do wonders for my butt! Seriously! I bought a pair of these in black last year, and they paired perfectly with all my dressy tops throughout the summer. I am loving the Ciocollato and Regal colors (although all the new colors are pretty cute). They are $100 per pair, so I figure I'd stick to the basic colors to get more wear out of them. Juicy tends to run a bit smaller, but I buy the crops in the petite size for the best fit (pants, I get the smalls for the extra length).

Any other Juicy fans out there? What is your must-have brand you like to splurge on?

* Update: Saw the Ciocollato color at Nordstroms and had to order a pair. Don't judge. Had to make sure I snagged a pair before all quantities ran out! :o) *

I am all over the giveaways today!!

Be sure to comment that I referred you though (please!!) - that's how you get extra entries!!

Please don't enter ... ha!

Entered the giveaway for this awesome Peek email/texting gadget. I am really wanting to win this, so please just ignore this little link. No need for others to enter. Ha, ha! Just joking!! Go check it out!!!

Be Still My Heart

Krispy Kreme. Original Glazed. I do a little dance every time I eat these heavenly little things.

My little man is 5 years old today, and we picked up a couple dozen of these babies instead of a birthday cake. That's how we roll.

LeeLou's Baby Shower Fun!

That's what I am talkin' about!

No, this is not personal. Just funny. Be sure to read the PS at the end.

To my darling husband,
Before you return from your overseas trip, I just want to let you know about the small accident I had with the pick up truck when I turned into the driveway. Fortunately it's not too bad and I really didn't get hurt, so please don't worry much about me.
I was coming home from Wal-Mart, and when I turned into the driveway I accidentally pushed down on the accelerator instead of the brake. The garage door is slightly bent, but the pick up fortunately came to a halt when it bumped into your beloved Ferrari.
I am really sorry, but I know with your kind-hearted personality you will forgive me. You know how much I love you and care for you, my sweetheart. I am enclosing a picture for you.
I cannot wait to hold you in my arms again.

Your loving wife
XXX


P.S. Your girlfriend called.

Couldn't help myself ... had to post!

Laughed so hard, I cried! A few of my fave bloggers have posted this, and I had to pass along the smiles! Enjoy!

I Love Jesus, but I drink a little ...

Ghost Whisperer, anyone?

I love this show. I love Jennifer Love Hewitt. I am NOT loving this new story line! I was absolutely pissed that Jim died (and bawled my eyes out when he did), but COME ON PEOPLE!!! Okay, so his spirit jumps into a dead guy's body and takes over a new life, but a) Jim is no longer hot in Sam's body, and the thought of Melinda and Sam together is so not right! and b) am I the only one that thinks this whole situation is STUPID!?! Ugh. So disappointing! I sure hope this soon passes. Move into the light, Jim, or at least go pick a hotter body to take up residency in.

I'm just saying.

If I Had A Girl ...

The first few months of my second pregnancy, I was just about convinced I was having a girl. My first trimester was way different than my first pregnancy, I had whenever sickness and would start dry-heaving at random moments throughout the day. My hypoglycemia acted up all the time, and I just wasn't sure what I was having (unlike with Maddox - I knew from the beginning I was having a boy).

To be honest, I had to convince myself that having a baby girl would be a good thing. You see, I am a simple girl. I am not high maintenance. I am easy-going, and hardly ever throw fits. As an adolescent and a teenager, I gave my parents a run for their money, and I definitely did not want a little diva running around our house! I loved my son, and had to prepare myself for ultrasound day if they announced a little girl. Hubby and I discussed names ... I liked Aubrey, he liked Taylor ... and I started searching for a nursery theme.

My friend, Betsy, is having a baby girl just a few days before my birthday this year, and talking with her as she prepares for Katie's arrival, I was reminded of the nursery set I had all picked out for my future daughter. To my relief surprise, I was preggo with my little man, Sean. No need for this adorable Glenna Jean Jitterbug set, but I'll admit that it was fun picking it out!

Keeping It Funny

Thanks, Em for making me laugh!!

A gynecologist had become so fed up with malpractice insurance and HMO paperwork and was burned out. Hoping to try another career where skillful hands would be beneficial, he decided to become a mechanic. He went to the local technical college, signed up for classes, attended diligently, and learned all he could.
When the time for the practical exam approached, the gynecologist prepared carefully for weeks and completed the exam with tremendous skill.When the results came back, he was surprised to find that he had obtained a score of 150%.
Fearing an error, he called the instructor, saying, "I don't want to appear ungrateful for such an outstanding result, but I wonder if there is an error in the grade."The instructor said, "During the exam, you took the engine apart perfectly, which was worth 50% of the total mark. "You put the engine back together again perfectly, which is also worth 50% of the mark." This equaled an A.
After a pause, the instructor added, "I gave you an extra 50% because you did it all through the muffler, which I've never seen done in my entire career.

~

And check out this funny post from Sassy Cass - my new blog friend!!

You are on the bus when you suddenly realize ... you need to pass gass. The music is really loud, so you time your gas with the beat. After a couple of songs, you start to feel better as you approach your stop. As you are leaving the bus, people are really staring you down, and that's when you realize, you have been listening to your ipod.

Scuurred

I love being tan ... I have a light olive skin naturally, but I still look pale and washed out in the winter. So you would think that vacationing in Cabo San Lucas, I would have come back with a delicious bronzing. Nope. I am not about to get cancer, so I 'tanned' with SPF 50. No joke. I did get some color - I had slight tan lines, but definitely not enough to convince anyone I had just gotten back from Mexico.

Tim and I had a big wedding event we attended this last weekend, and of course, I wanted to look my best all dressed up. So, after much deliberation, I decided to go get a spray tan. I was so worried I was going to turn orange, but was assured that I wouldn't.

I went to the local Suns Up Tanning Center (after a major exfoliation and shaving session in the shower) and learned the run-down as to what I was about to partake in. The cute little 17 year old tanning 'specialist' showed me all the moves I would be doing in this alien shower stall looking contraption, and all I could do was laugh thinking about the episode of Friends where Ross goes spray tanning.

All in all, everything went well. I did not turn orange, although I was a little concerned with my color within the first 24 hours, as you aren't supposed to shower. After I washed away the lingering solution, my faux tan looked very natural! I received a few compliments, too! For $30, it was worth the extra boost of confidence, but I am not sold on spray tanning on a regular basis. The color last about 5 days, and fades naturally, and I will definitly consider it again when need be, but for the most part, it still feels fake to me. I am just so thankful I didn't end up like Ross.

.

Where was Chuy?

In Cabo, I read Chelsea Handler's book "Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea." Throughout our vacay, my hubby kept checking in to see if the book was just as funny as Ms. Handler is in person (stand-up and on Chelsea Lately). I was actually disappointed. I didn't laugh as much as I was hoping, and I was even bored at some points. Sad, I know. I did have a few laugh out loud moments, but I was expecting more. She didn't even talk about her 'little nugget' who shares the book cover with her! Oh well. She is still a funny gal, just not in print.