Sunday, November 2, 2014

To touch or not to touch?

If you are a Mom, let me introduce you to my new favorite product!
It's the Braun No Touch + Forehead thermometer! I seriously love this thing!!


The Braun® No touch + forehead thermometer is the first thermometer to take professionally accurate temperatures with a gentle touch of the the forhead or no touch at all. Braun's clinically proven tehcnology won't disturb your sleeping little one, and the large color-coded display with temperature guidance system is easy to read. For professional accuracy, gentle convenience, and peace of mind, choose Braun. 

When I first opened the box, I tried it immediately out on Kahle and Izzie. When I used it touching their forehead and then a few inches away, I got the same result. I was thrilled. I set it away and didn't touch it again until a few weeks later when Kahle was feeling sick. Sure enough, he had a fever. This thermometer takes the temp pretty quickly and it has different colors to let you know what you are dealing with. It's green if the temp falls less than 99.4, it is yellow if it's between 99.4 and 101.3 and it will be red if it's higher than 101.3.  Also, you will hear 10 beeps of the temp is above 99.4. 

It is seriously so simple to use. You press the power button, put the thermometer on the forehead, just between the eyebrows or 2 inches away and press the thermometer button. If you are not close enough, it will show an arrow and the FWD meaning go forward. 

I really recommend this on your baby registry for all you expecting mama's and it would also be a great gift to give to new parents. 


"I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes."


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Friday, October 17, 2014

5 years old?


Today is my little Izzie's 5th birthday!! Holy cow! Time sure does fly by. I'm so amazed at how much she grows and changes each day. I recently got the proofs back from her preschool pictures, and she looks so grown up! It's unbelievable. She has grown so tall and her face has lost some of the baby roundness. It's shocking! She is turning into such a sweet young lady. It seems she can never get enough hugs, cuddles and kisses in anymore. She's constantly coming up to me and telling me how much she loves me or just hugging me out of the blue. This is a major thing because as I've been saying, she's been experiencing the Terrible 2's since before she was 2! She had her moments where she would be lovey, but mostly, you had to tell her you didn't want a hug or kiss and then she would laugh and give you one. She also was kind of snotty and wouldn't talk to people, like grandmas, grandpas, aunts and so on. Now she will talk, in person or on the phone, and has completely done a 180! It really makes my heart so happy to see her so lovable! She is really loving on her brother a lot lately too!!  She is also finally really getting into dance. She still gets tired after awhile, but she pushes through. She does Hip Hop first and then Tap/Ballet class right after. I know I would be tired too! She's in her last year of preschool and oh man, she is really catching on. She is starting to write letters all over the place and she is constantly pointing them out to us. I can't believe she will be in Kindergarten next year! Happy 5th Birthday Isabella Lourdes! I love you so much!!




















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Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Dear Vicki,


Dear Vicki,

Wow! How does it feel to be 40?
Yeah, I know, I can't believe it either! And you thought 30 was crazy. Let's see, Kahle is now 21 and Izzie is just about 15. That's just crazy. I hope things have settled down with the kids and hopefully they can get along and quit tattling on each other every 5 minutes.
I'm also hoping by this time, you and Tim are finally married. I mean, a 3 year engagement is probably long enough, we don't need to wait another 10. Did you ever decide to have another baby? I know you two have talked about it. Also, are you still working in the Assessor's office? Are you the Assessor? You said you never wanted to be "in charge." Did you change your mind or did you finally get to be a stay at home Mom?

I'm hoping by now, you have fixed up your house and perhaps have even sold it and bought an acreage! That would be perfect! Have you started a dog rescue yet?

How's the reading going? Have you ever finished your to-read piles?
Yeah, I didn't think so! I'm sure Tim is used to the piles everywhere by now.

What I really hope for you, is that you are happy and healthy. I know you were really trying to work out and be comfortable with yourself and I hope that you have succeeded. I know you were struggling with a few things 10 years ago and I hope everything worked out for the best for all involved and you are happy with the choices you made.  It's a tough thing but I'm sure you made the best out of it since you have had to do that with struggles your whole life.  I hope everything everything in your life is amazing!


Love,
Vicki


That was kind of fun to imagine in 10 years. And being 40........wow. I have no words. I don't like to think about the age. But I do like to think about where I might be in that time. Make sure you link up today with Taylor and Helene!


The Daily Tay Blogtober14




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Friday, October 3, 2014

One Thing I cannot live without



Ok, for today's prompt, obviously I can't live without food and water and my family, but there is something or somethings that I can't imagine my life without ever. Dogs. I HAVE to have dogs in my life. I seriously cannot imagine not having at least 1 dog in my house.






So there you have it. The 2 furballs in my life that get almost all my attention. They follow me everywhere, especially to the bathroom, and if I'm relaxing anywhere with a blanket, you better believe they will be glued to me and I wouldn't have it any other way. They honestly brighten my day and never fail at turning my bad mood into a good one! Also it's Pitbull Awareness Month!! Go give some hugs and kisses to a Pittie. I know I will be! Ok, I do that everyday. :)

What can't you live without? Link up with Helene and Taylor!

Helene in Between Blogtober


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Thursday, October 2, 2014

Dream Job Then & Dream Job Now



Today's prompt is: What was my dream job when I was growing up and what is it now.

I definitely wanted to be a teacher when I was growing up and I was all set to go to college and fulfill that dream until I found out I was pregnant.  (I'm still kicking myself for not going.) I had great teachers in Elementary and I wanted to be like them. My dream job now would be still a teacher. I think it would be fantastic to teach kids and help them grow and also to have summers off! And actually, being anything in the school system would work for me, Secretary, Para, Principal....the list goes on. :)

But now that I'm taking Izzie to the library, I would love to be a librarian too! Books, quiet and reading? Count me in!!


I also would like to be a stay at home mom...but only so I can read all day. :)


What did you want to be when you "grew" up and did you accomplish it?


Helene in Between Blogtober


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Wednesday, October 1, 2014

If I Won the Lottery.........Blogtober14


I'm so excited to be linking up with my 2 of my favorite Bloggers Helene and Taylor for Blogtober!

Today's prompt is "If I won the lottery I'd" and this is my favorite thing to think about! Now, I don't actually play the lottery because I don't have very good luck and I would end up spending more playing to win than I would if I actually won. I'm also kind of a negative person it sounds like. Ha!

Anyways, if I won the lottery, the first thing I would do is put away money for my kids to go to college and set up some trust funds to help them out with their lives. Then, of course, I would set money aside for our retirement. I want to make sure I have everything prepared for the future before I start worrying about the present.

After all the really important stuff, I would fix up our current house and sell it and then I would find some land near our town but in the county to buy, build my dream house and set up a dog boarding/shelter building. My family loves Pit Bulls so much and it breaks my heart to see so many in shelters and not be able to save them all. I mean, I love all dogs in general so I would be glad to take in any that need homes. And as for the boarding, I love my vet clinic a lot, but when you board your dog, it's just cement floors and nothing cozy about it unless you bring a bed for your dog. I would like to offer something that is like a home away from home for your dogs. :)

I would also quit my job, mostly because I imagine the boarding and sheltering is going to keep me plenty busy, but I would love for Tim and I to do some travelling together. My dream is to travel all over Europe!

And of course, I would have to do plenty of shopping for my family and I would definitely give money to my Mom and Allison.  They've been there for me so many times, I would have to help them out too. I think I would change my cell phone number though so people that don't participate in my life now, won't call me begging for money.

Helene in Between


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Sunday, September 21, 2014

Blogging for Books: The Doll by Taylor Stevens



So many books, so little time. That's the story of my life. Ha! Story, no pun intended. Anyways, I have so many books that I want to read and there is not enough time in my day to get it done.  Especially with kids, they are constantly interrupting my reading time. I mean, seriously, what do I look like, the Mom? Haha. So, I finally finished my second book that I received from Blogging For Books.   I chose The Doll by Taylor Stevens.



 Haunted by a life of violence and as proficient with languages as she is with knives, Vanessa Michael Munroe, chameleon and hunter, has built her life on a reputation for getting things done—dangerous and often not-quite-legal things. The ability to survive, fight, adapt, and blend has since taken her across the globe on behalf of corporations, heads of state, and the few private clients who can afford her unique brand of expertise, and these abilities have made her enemies. 
   On a busy Dallas street, Munroe is kidnapped by an unseen opponent and thrust into an underground world where women and girls are merchandise and a shadowy figure known as The Doll Maker controls her every move. While trusted friends race to find her, everything pivots on one simple choice: Munroe must use her unique set of skills to deliver a high-profile young woman into the same nightmare that she once endured, or condemn to torture and certain death the one person she loves above all else.
   In this high-octane thriller Munroe will have to fight fast, smart, and furious to overcome a dangerous nemesis and deliver her trademark brand of justice.



So in all honesty, it was kind of hard for me to get into at the beginning because the author called everyone by their last names and I prefer first names, or so I realized as I was reading. It just seems more personable. But then, once I got everyone figured out, it was full of action and I was really into it. 
I have seen movies about sex trafficking and I find it very interesting that this is happening in our world right under our noses. That is part of the reason I wanted to read this book. 

I really didn't see it ending the way it did but I loved it. The last chapter confused me though, and perhaps I missed something or it was leading into another book. I noticed after I finished the book that the author's other 2 books are about Munroe also, and now I'm thinking that if I would have known that, I would have read them first so I could have known a little more about her background and things would have made sense a little more. I think that this is a stand alone book, but I prefer to really know the background of the characters when I read.

I plan on checking out other books by Taylor Stevens. She is a very good action writer and ended up loving Vanessa Michael Munroe's character.


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Wednesday, August 13, 2014

30?????



Holy cow!! Today is my 30th birthday! It really snuck up on me and makes me freak out a little bit. It's not that I feel old, well, except for injuring my ankle by doing nothing, but 30 has always sounded so old and now, here I am!


I thought I would do a little post about 30 things I want to do in my 30's. (This is going to be a long list!)

1. Get married. I mean, a 3 year engagement is a little excessive. :)
2. Finally try get in shape. I don't have to do anything too strenuous, but jeez Vicki, do SOMETHING!
3. Redo all rooms in our house. Kahle's room has been (is being) redone, now the rest. I'm ready for an            adult looking house.
4. Read more. I read all the time the way it is, but I want to stop messing on my phone and watching tv and       just read more.
5. Get Kahle more into reading. He used to love it......I got to get him to love it again.
6. Teach Izzie to read. Kahle was reading by Kindergarten. She's got 1 year. We can do it!
7. Make meals more consistently. I try to cook every night but get lazy a lot. I want to stop that.
8. Bake more! I love to bake. And my family loves it when I bake. :)
9. Incorporate more healthy foods in our house. Izzie loves junk food, but she also loves fruits and some            veggies. I need to get her, and Kahle, to eat more healthy foods.
10. Buy a decent dining room table. We currently have a crappy glass top table and I hate it, so we don't use       it. I want a good one and I want us to use it for eating, not piling papers.
11. Get rid of junk!! I have a lot and I need to get it out of my house.
12. Organize the junk I keep. I have so many school papers and pictures and I need to organize what I have        and get rid of the stuff I don't have to keep.
13. Get in more family time. We are always together, but I want to do things together.
14. Walk Finnegan and Halia. My dogs like to go on walks, so why don't I take them? I'm lazy.
15. Go outside with the kids. My kids love playing outside, I could kill two birds with one stone and read           outside while they are playing.
16. Write on the blog more. I mean, this obviously needs to get done!
17. More date nights with Tim. And I mean and actual date night, not grocery shopping without the kids.
18. Introduce a new member or 2 to the family. These may be human or animal. ;)
19. Take more baths and use more LUSH!! If you don't know what this is, click the link and buy.
20. Make breakfast on the weekends. I want my kids to have something yummy in the mornings.
21. Go to bed earlier and wake up earlier. Since I'm not a morning person, I really need to work on this.
22. Spend more time with Mom and Alli. Together and separately.  My Mom lives in the same town I do,           but we don't spend much time together. I'd like to start doing lunch a couple times a month. My sister           moved about an hour away and we really hardly see each other anymore. It makes me sad.
23. Take more pictures. My kids are growing so fast, I need to document them more.
24. Get family pictures done. We haven't ever had pictures taken since Izzie was born. She's going to be 5.         I'm pretty sure this is a priority.
25. Put up pictures in my house. I have dance and school pictures. I need picture frames and I need to hang          them.
26. Have 1-on-1 time with Kahle more. I spend time with Izzie when Tim is working and Kahle is at his               Dad's but I need more time with Kahle.
27. Sort through my clothes. I like to hang onto clothes that I think have meaning for me and I don't wear             them. It's time for them to go.
28. Buy Christmas presents BEFORE December. We have a few bought this year already. I want to finish         this years and have everything bought early every year.
29. Comment on more blogs. I comment on a few but I really need to comment on more.
30. Be happier. I'm mostly a grump and that needs to change too! I just need to find happiness in the little           things. It's very important, especially if you have kids.

Woohoo!! I made it!! Have a great day everyone!!

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Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Currently.......

I'm linking up again today with JulietteFaith and Allie for a Currently type of post, which is a lot like what I used to love doing on Myspace. I know, I'm pretty lame. Sorry.

READING: Deeds and Transfer Statements at work and City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare at home.

WRITING: This post. Duh! And I should be working the deeds and transfer statements right now, but I'm not. Oops.

LISTENING: Creed on the radio. Boo!!

THINKING: How I need another vacation. And how I don't want to work anymore.

SMELLING: Absolutely nothing.

WISHING: Everything would stop breaking and falling apart. For example, both vehicles, our front window, our screen door and I'm sure there's other things.

HOPING: I can stay motivated enough to work out when I get home.

WEARING: My black and white maxi dress that I got from StitchFix.

WANTING: A million books!! I just keep finding more and more that I want to read. Life's so tough.

LOVING: How much Izzie loves spending time outside. It's great knowing that she would rather be playing than watching tv all day long.

NEEDING: To win the lottery! I have school shopping to do, cars to fix, vacation to take next year and on and on.



Allieology





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Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Blogging for Books Review


I recently stumbled on a program called Blogging For Books.  I thought, I blog, I love books, I should check this out! And I'm glad I did.  You create an account on their website, answer a few questions and then you pick a book out of their selection and they will send it to you for free. All they ask is that you blog about it and leave a review on their website! If you love to read, please do this!

I received the book The Execution of Noa P. Singleton by Elizabeth L. Silver.

From Goodreads:
Noa P. Singleton never spoke a word in her own defense throughout a brief trial that ended with a jury finding her guilty of first-degree murder. Ten years later, having accepted her fate, she sits on death row in a maximum-security penitentiary, just six months away from her execution date. 
Seemingly out of the blue, she is visited by Marlene Dixon, a high-powered Philadelphia attorney who is also the mother of the woman Noa was imprisoned for killing. Marlene tells Noa that she has changed her mind about the death penalty and Noa’s sentence, and will do everything in her considerable power to convince the governor to commute the sentence to life in prison, in return for the one thing Noa is unwilling to trade: her story.
      Marlene desperately wants Noa to reveal the events that led to her daughter’s death – events that Noa has never shared with a soul. With death looming, Marlene believes that Noa may finally give her the answers she needs, though Noa is far from convinced that Marlene deserves the salvation she alone can deliver. Inextricably linked by murder but with very different goals, Noa and Marlene wrestle with the sentences life itself can impose while they confront the best and worst of what makes us human in this haunting tale of love, anguish, and deception.

I saw some mixed reviews on this book so I wasn't sure what to expect, but I seriously loved it! I was really into it and was constantly trying to find out if Noa was innocent or actually guilty.  The author did a great job peeling off the layers of the story to find out exactly what happened between Noa and Sarah.  I love books that really show the dark side of people and this book does exactly that. 

I'm a pretty firm believer in Capital Punishment for murder but at the same time, I hate to think that people that might actually be innocent, could be on Death Row.  This book really made me think though.  I would like to elaborate more on that, but you really need to read the book and then we can discuss this. :)  

I would say if you liked Gone Girl, you will like this. And just so you know, I loved Gone Girl, even the ending!

I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review.
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#TLCVoxBox


I was so excited to find out I was receiving the TLC Vox Box from Influenster. I have received other products from Influenster but it was always just 1 item from a brand. This box contained several items. This box is for the Moms of Influenster Nation.



First up is the Neosporin Neo To Go which retails for $4.97 to $7.50.
It's a no touch, no sting spray that you can use 1 handed while you are on the go! I have actually bought this for my purse before and I love it. Believe me, with kids, you need this. Izzie has gained only 50 scars so far this summer and Neo To Go is great for her! I never realized how clumsy and tomboyish she is!

Breyer's Gelato Indulgences: $4.49-$5.99
I had never heard of this until I received a coupon in my box. There are 4 varieties: Vanilla Caramel, (which I picked) Raspberry Cheesecake, Tiramisu and Triple Chocolate. They advertise that there is a trio of textures - creamy gelato, luscious sauce and gourmet toppings.

Ivory Bar Soap: $3.99 for a 10-pack
I don't know about you all, but I don't use bar soap anymore, but this is a great soap for mothers to use on their kids.  It is 99.44% pure, clean and simple.  It contains no dyes or heavy perfumes.

Avon ANEW Reversalist Express Wrinkle Smoother: $30
This is a translucent balm that is supposed to blur the look of wrinkles on the forehead and around the eyes instantly.  This is another product I have never heard of it, but boy was I glad to see this! I have some wrinkles going on in my forehead (I blame my kids!) so I was thrilled to try this out.  All you do is use your fingers to gently pat on over moisturizer or even over your makeup! And right now if you visit AVON.com you can receive 15% off your Anew purchase of $50 or more with the code ANEW15.

Puffs To Go: $.49 per single pack
Of course I love these little packs too! I was glad to have one in my purse when I went to see The Fault in our Stars!! As any mother, heck as any female knows, tissues are always great to have on hand! (Does anyone else call all tissues kleenex, or just me?)

Last in the box was the Shell Fuel Rewards Network Card.
I have heard of this before, but sadly we don't have any Shell fuel stations in our town. The closest one is about 30 minutes away and I usually fill up before I go there.  If you have a Shell station nearby you should check this out. It's a free loyalty program that helps you save money on fuel. I'm sure EVERYONE wants to save money on gas! You can also earn 10 cents per gallon for every $50 you spend when you go out to eat. More than 10,000 restaurants participate. You only have to link up your credit or debit card with your Rewards card. There's also an online mall with more than 700 brand name merchants that over 5 cents/gallon for every $50. Some even offer 2x, 5x or 10x the rewards or more.




I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

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