Thursday, October 29, 2015

Not Perfect

I spend a lot of time writing posts that I never publish. I worry that someone will read it and judge me. Seems a little silly to be a blogger if I am always worrying what other people think. Of course I want people to like me. I think most people do. I'm not perfect though, far from it. So I'm writing a post about it. I'm not backtracking or editing out the parts I think people won't like. Be warned that might mean some shoddy grammar and spelling, because both are far from perfect. 

When I bake cookies, I always give my kids a pinch of brown sugar. Of course I give myself a pinch, too. Let's be honest, we could all use a little sweetness in our lives. If I'm in the kitchen working they know, and they line up for a little sugar. 

I'm a total failure at making homemade brownies. Seriously, I can destroy any brownie recipe I see. This is only a recent failure, though. One Christmas I made goody packages full of homemade treats. I went all out and made several different brownies from recipes on Pinterest. Yum! Now every brownie (that isn't out of a box) is sad. 

I let my kids eat junk. Not all the time, I try to give them a balanced diet. I've even limited some of their pre-packaged intake. Mostly in the breakfast area. I still give them veggies out of the can and potatoes out of a box some nights. I'm not sure how other moms make all homemade and non-preservative food, but I'm just not there yet. My kids get candy. In fact I just bought a ton on sale and when I'm feeling nice, or when they sneak it, or they've done something awesome, they have a little bit of candy. They also eat fast food. Not constantly, but we have a designated dinner out and a movie night every Friday. They pick whatever they want and we have that for dinner. Healthy? Nope. Fun? Absolutely!

I lose my cool. My mouth runs away with me and words my kids shouldn't say fly right out. With five of them on top of me, twins need a bath, the boy needs a picture drawn right now, this project is due, that item is needed tomorrow, sign this, a snack a snack a snack, this game isn't working, my sheets are scratchy, she stole my blanket, the twins are making more wall art, someone is constantly screaming because they aren't happy. dinner just got chucked to the floor....ect. Yeah I lose my cool. I'm better at it than I used to be. People compliment me, tell me they don't know how I do it. I just laugh, because I know I mess up. I know some days I'm not handling it and I just want to cry. 

My kids get more screen time than they should. Yep, I know, I'm horrible. The boy doesn't always calm down easily. If he has the kindle, he settles. I need the settled sometimes. At bedtime, my monkeys lay down and watch their shows. Another no-no. It's not on all night though, and my kids are asleep no later than nine, eight more than not, so I don't feel like it's a bad thing. 

I procrastinate everything! When my kids bring home something that needs signed, I wait until the last day. I don't know why, because then I'm stressed out that I've missed a deadline. If I have a book to review for my other blog, two days before it's due, I finally read it. I can even start with good intentions two weeks early and I won't finish that book until the last possible moment. I'm procrastinating this post. I just hopped over to Facebook. I'm having a Halloween party on Saturday for my kids and I haven't started any of the baking yet. I was supposed to start Monday because I have so much planned. If there was a procrastination award, I would definitely be eligible. 

I start things and don't finish them. This is everything. TV shows, like all the ones where people try out first. I watch the try-outs and maybe a few elimination shows, then I just quit watching. I won't drink the last of the milk in a carton or finish a bag of cereal (drives my husband crazy). I've started writing ten books, and so far I've actually finished only one. I start reading books and veer off into some other interest (Netflix is a tempting thing people!!). I wash laundry and don't fold it (but I don't think I'm alone in that one :) )

I'm not perfect. No one is. But I'm trying. I'm trying to be a good mom. To bake better brownies. To finish a story. To keep my cool when chaos is reigning around me. I think that trying is important. If I'm trying to be better then I don't think I'm doing such a bad job. Or at least I hope my kids can tell people one day, "My mom might not have been perfect, but she tried her hardest." That's a goal I can reach for. 

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Blogging Again!


I've been gone for ages from this blog. With five kids I found out that the crazy part was very true. My days have been busy and exciting. I never seemed to find the time to write a post. So I went on a three year hiatus. Now all my monkeys are in school, so I'm giving blogging another go.


My monkeys have grown up so fast. Some days I miss having a little baby, but let me tell you, these five keep me on my feet. They crack me up constantly with little things they say and do. There will probably be plenty of posts were I brag about my funny little monsters. Maybe they'll make you laugh, too. 

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Rendi Review and Giveaway


Rendi is a U.S based company that was started by Annie Danielson. Rendi creates beautiful picture frames and signs that can be customized. All Rendi products are planet friendly. They sell individual frames and signs, and they also sell large packages to help customers create a beautiful story wall.

For my review I ordered a beautiful Pattern Play Small Horizontal Offset Frame. There were several design options. I could choose from several colors, I chose Chocolate. I could add a photo for free or wait until I received the frame and add one. I chose the latter. Then I could add writing. I could search through their Quote Library for something to add to my frame or I could add something myself. Since I intended to use this frame for my parents I chose something from my children. 

Shipping was very fast, and my frame was packaged really well. It came secured in a very pretty folded envelope, which could easily work for gift giving. The quality is amazing. I wasn't expecting it to be as heavy as it was. It is very solid, and the wood was smooth. The design is so pretty! I love the blue with the chocolate. It can be hung on a wall or stood up like it is in my picture.

You can learn more about Rendi or purchase their amazing products on their Website, Facebook, and Twitter. Rendi is giving one of my readers a $50 Online Gift Code for Rendi Style. Enter on the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win.

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Check out Rendi reviews from other members of the Karma Media Team!

I received this product through Karma Media in exchange for my honest review.

Monday, August 13, 2012

Moody Bands Giveaway

Enter on the entry form below to win a set of Moody Bands 10 Winners
Moody Bands is a fun way for children to express their feelings and for parents to encourage emotional development. The full set includes - happy, excited, nervous, tired, angry and sad.
Giveaway is open from August 13th until August 27th Open to US Residents only Winner will be notified by email, winner must respond within 48 hours to claim their prize or a new winner will be chosen.
GOOD LUCK!
*This giveaway was brought to you through a campaign with Karma Media
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Rock 'N Learn Sight Words 2 Giveaway

Enter below for you chance to win a Rock 'N Learn Sight Words Level 2 DVD! There will be 12 winners!
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Friday, August 10, 2012

Rock 'N Learn Sight Words Level 2 Review

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Rock 'N Learn is an amazing learning tool. They have taken learning and set it to music to help children grasp it easier and enjoy it more. There are a huge variety of fun learning tools available ranging from reading and phonics to foreign language.


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This time my children and I reviewed Sight Words Level 2. Once again they were very excited for their DVD. My five year old and three year old will both be going to school this year. Sight words play a big part of what they are taught in their Montessori class. The Sight Words Lever 2 (and Level 1) is a great way for them to work on words they'll be using in school. So far the two DVDs have done a great job of keeping up with the words that my girls will be learning.







The Level 2 DVD teaches children 68 new sight words and it also reviews words they learned on the Level 1 DVD. It is for Kindergarten to First Grade children. Of course we were singing and dancing and learning new words. Their favorite parts were the bears and dogs. Also, the part where they got to be detectives and learn the tenses of words was really great.

You can purchase your own Rock 'N Learn products and learn more about them on their website, Facebook, and Twitter.

When you're shopping be sure to use this coupon code to get 25% off your purchase - JQ7711

I received Rock 'N Learn Sight Words Level 2 as part of a Karma Media campaign. All opinions are 100% mine.

Check out these reviews of Sight Words Level 2 by other Karma Media team members!


Moody Bands Review

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Moody Bands are a really great product that helps children to express their moods in a fun and easy way. There are six of these wrist bands made of 100% cotton. They are very soft and well made. Each band is a different color and they all have a smiley representing the mood that is text on the bands as well. There is a band for Happy, Sad, Tired, Nervous, Angry, and Excited.

My children were excited to see this package come. Anything that they can wear is exciting and fun for them. We received the Moody Band Full Set. Ashlynn, Riley, and I have discussed what each emotion means and which band represents it, so they can wear it.


Let the modeling begin!!






Obviously we had a fun time with this product. The girls did a great job of showing me the emotions and I think these will be an interesting way to help them learn to express their feelings and emotions. 

If you want to purchase Moody Bands or learn more about them you can do so on their website and Facebook.


I received Moody Bands as part of a Karma Media campaign. All opinions are 100% mine.


Check out these reviews of Moody Bands from other Karma Media team memebers!