Boy, time flies when you’re having fun!

 

I’ve had such vision for this blog over the years.  And I still do, it’s just had to take a back seat.  In May, I took a full time Recruiting job working in Baltimore with a reputable financial firm.  It was a big and important career move for me.  Working from home was always what I did.  It was all I really knew (post having children).  I thought it would be really hard to go back to work.  Let’s just say that as much as I love being at home as a wife, mother, Recruiter and furniture slider arounder and part time self proclaimed organizer and banana bread maker — this job completes me.  Maybe it just completes me right now.  Maybe I’m shallow and jacked up and a bad Mom and all I have really wanted to do all of these years is be gone all day long.  But I’m happy, really happy.  I definitely have my days, though.  Certain times a month I will treat my husband as if it’s plain torture that I have to work and he gets to stay home with the kids.  But, as I’m dashing out of the house with the breakfast in my stomach that my husband made me, my second cup of coffee that I’m drinking from a to-go mug that he prepared for me, my neatly packed lunch that he put in my cute lunch bag and my most likely new outfit and showered self with straightened hair and make up done, I’m happy.  I mean, let’s be honest, who wouldn’t be?  I could be living in pretend land, but so far, I don’t see that my children have been affected by my absence during the day hours.  It could be that my husband is amazing and that God loves us.  I’m going with that. 

This job is a 6 month contract, dated to end in November.  It could last longer.  I’m not sure. 
I’m just trying to enjoy life and be thankful for His blessings.

In the meantime, I’m hoping to get a hold of my blog life again and write with some meaning.

 

xo and Thanks for reading

 

 

Girly Tips

There are things I want every woman to know and do. Call me controlling, if you wish.

1. Buy 90% black underwear. They are sexier and as long as you are not wearing white, you’re good to go. There are more reasons to buy black underwear and you know them, so I don’t have to type it here

2. Don’t wait until after Memorial Day or before Labor Day to wear white.

3. Purchase and use 3 things from Norwex: the microfiber body/cleansing cloths, the polishing cloth and the regular cleaning cloths. They will change your life. No cleaning solutions just quick, healthy, and beautiful cleaning. Every time. And no, I’m not a rep!

4. Drink water and lots of it. Pretty skin, full belly, and clear stink free urine. Ha!

5. Always wear a little bronzer. Find one you like and contine to purchase it. You won’t be sorry

6. Don’t compare yourself and don’t judge. You never know another woman’s struggles and past.

7. RSVP. Return phone calls. Return emails. Say thank you. This is not called rocket science or going out of your way. These are called manners.

8. Get the clutter out of your house so that you want to be home with your family. It’s easier to clean that way. Also. And you can have people over! And your children will want their friends to be over.

9. Buy a great pair of tall gray boots! They go with black AND brown.

10. Burn candles as often as possible. It’s cozy.

The Pinterest Challenge : Freezer Meals

I’m going to host a May Pinterest challenge! I don’t know about you, but I get a little depressed pinning and rep inning my favorite “things” only to do nothing with them — and some of these things I really, really want to give a try!

So, who would be with me on this? I want to prep 15 dinner meals and freeze them. I want to do it with girlfriends in my kitchen and make it into a party! We all bring ingredients for one meal but for 15 people. We will search for budget friendly meals that are fairly simple. 15 girls all together. I’m thinking of doing this a Sunday evening at 5 pm – 10 pm. Is anyone in with me?

This will come at a good time because I’ve taken on a new 6 month contract and I’m going to have to be super organized at home.

Next month I’d like to do a home management/time management type of project! I see lots of fun with this one!

If you’re seriously interested, email me at: bethyoung26@yahoo.com!

Yay!

Easter at the Beach

Little did I know that when I told my  husband I had an amazing rate for an ocean front hotel room that sleeps 6 he would take me up on it.  It was Easter weekend after all!  Turns out, it was just what we all needed.  It was a short trip, about 20 hours, but it was a blast. 

The hotel offered an Easter Egg Hunt on the beach which was really cute.  The weather was in the high 60′s so we were able to walk on the boardwalk, eat outside some, ride some kiddy rides, and do a little walking on the beach.  The hotel also has a great indoor pool and ice skating rink.  The kids loved the pool.  Jake was really afraid of the ocean!  I am pretty sure all 3 of my kids didn’t like the beach until they were 5.  I don’t know how on earth that’s possible!  I would live on the beach if I could.

Here are a couple of cute pictures taken by my iPhone. 

 

 

 

great children or kids birthday party idea in the Baltimore area — Cupcake Decorating Party!

 

 

 

I have had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Sandra Long, the owner of Charm City Cupcakes in Baltimore.  We were talking and she told me about all that her store offers and children’s birthday parties was one of them!  Most places will charge you an arm and a leg for their own pizzas, drinks and snacks.  At Charm City Cupcakes you can bring your own party with you — just show up with the children!  Look at there adorable cupcakes:

I cannot wait to take my kids to the Mommy and Me Cupcake Decorating Class!
“Here is what her website says about her cupcakes:

Whether we are baking from our Charm City Classics or from our Gourmet Specialty Menu–the result is simply extraordinary. Forever passionate, we like to say we are simply about cupcakes–most say we are simply the best!

Led by the top pastry chefs in the Eastern region, Charm City Cupcakes believes in first things first–our cupcakes must always taste amazing. Baked daily with the freshest ingredients the real bonus is they are the most breathtaking pieces of dessert–most of us just stare in amazement before the first bite.

Offering over 65 tempting cupcakes for special days and everyday, the celebrated and award-winning chefs of Charm City Cupcakes presents you with endless possibilities!

Join us as we celebrate the launch of Charm City Cupcakes’ Cupcake Decorating 101 and Mommy/Daddy & Me classes!! Classes are held at 3215 N. Charles Street in Baltimore, Maryland. Call (410) 889-8080 to talk with Sara our class coordinator! ”

Dollar Store Decorating — Fake flowers

My house could be filthy, but if I have some flowers in a few vases, some cute pillows, music playing and a candle burning — I can remain clear headed.  Right now, my floors need to be desperately washed.  There is about 3 lbs of hair on the floor of my master bathroom from my husband cutting his hair, his beard,and our boys’ hair.  I think it’s been there for 5 days or something.  I’ve created a natural tint to my storm door with the dog’s slobber and the kids hand prints.  The area rug in our living room had to be pulled up because the dog vomited 10 times over the weekend  with much of it landing on my rug.  My furniture just looks like it’s kind of floating in my living room.  Let’s not talk about the state of my dishes and the rest of the house.  But right now?  I’m looking at my pink flowers and all is well with my soul.  I’m also listening to music and sipping coffee.  Go ahead and add that to the top of my list with the filthy house happenings.

Fresh flowers are expensive.  The only reason I’m currently looking at live hot pink roses is because yesterday was Valentine’s Day and my husband loves me.  Usually I’m looking at my dollar store flowers WHICH I LOVE.  

How many of you knew that your local dollar store has fake flowers for $1 a bunch?  Let me show you what I do around the house with these cheap flowers thrown into mason jars that bring me such happiness:

$2 Dollar Store flowers in a mason jar.

$3 worth of Pink fake roses from the Dollar Store on my Dining Room table in a Mason.

 

I bought this pretty pale pink flower at Target.  Not $1 but not much more.

Flowers purchased by my Valentine on my desk

Notice a trend?  Pink flowers make me happy.  And it doesn’t have to cost much to make your house pretty, either.

DIY sugar scrub. Or “mud scrub”

my picture of the scrub I just made:

 

I’m so glad there are smart people on-line who make up stuff so that I can enjoy my life more.  Thanks to this cool chic, I just made a delightful coffee scrub for the shower.  She says here about the benefits of caffeine on your body:

“What is Mud Scrub you ask.
Well, basically it’s a sugar and coffee scrub.

I love it!
Especially because the coffee has such great benefits for your skin.
Coffee and Caffeine are showing up all over in beauty products due to their tightening and antioxidant effects on the skin.

Caffeine, works on skin in the three primary ways:
as a vasoconstrictor, an antioxidant, and a diuretic.

Applied topically caffeine helps to redistribute fat cells and decrease the formation of cellulite. It also acts as a vasorestrictor, tightening and shrinking blood vessels thereby helping eliminate varicose veins.

Guess what! It can make you feel more alert too,
because you associate the smell with the invigorating effects of drinking coffee.
(It’s a learned response.)”

A simple, easy and awesome Play-doh recipe

I got this here and from Pinterest. This recipe is perfect.  I added neon blue food coloring and a few drops of peppermint essential oil.  My little guy is going to be in heaven when he wakes up.  I made this in 10 minutes while on a conference call.

New Reads for 2012 and some past from 2011.

 

Right now I am reading such a great, inspiring and challenging book:  7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess.  It’s phenomenal and funny.  I highly recommend it.

Chad and I, with our small group at church are reading:  The Meaning of Marriage:  Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God.  It’s chapters are lengthy, but it’s really good and gets right to the tough questions and issues that real marriages face.

I just finished the book Seriously, I’m Kidding by Ellen Degeneres.  It wasn’t good.  I love Ellen.  This book was written almost like a joke but a not very funny joke.  She had a chapter title like “my political views” and the chapter was one paragraph long and went something like this:  ”I have some political views and let’s just say that.  What kind of weather are you having today?  I love black beans.  I especially love black beans on tacos.  I’ve got to go to work now!”  Really.  I’m usually really easy on Ellen but this book was HORRIBLE.  A 6 year old could have gotten through it in 3 days.

I also recently finished A Place of Yes by Bethenny Frankel.  I don’t know if anyone is familiar with Bethenny, but she is a natural foods chef and has her own reality show.  She’s funnier than funny.  She also sells products on the “Skinny Girl” line.  I love her Skinny Girl White Cosmo’s and the daily vitamins and detox all natural cleansers.  This was one of my favorite reads of the year.  She gives excellent business and life advice from a worldly perspective and it was very good.

Now, this next read is truly one of the funniest although inappropriate at a lot of times book of mine for 2011.  Tina Fey’s Bossypants.  Read it, but don’t tell too many people that I told you to  She has hilarious stories from her childhood up through later adulthood and they are funny.  FUNNY.  

I’m also currently Kindling with Give Them Grace:  Dazzling You Kids with the Love of Jesus,  Loving the Little Years and The Hunger Games.

Books that are on my shelf to read are:  Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Organized Simplicity (always and again), Pride and Prejudice, The Joy of Less and Unstuff Your Life.

I’m currently going through an on-line club with other ladies called “Good Morning Girls” as we go through the book of Ephesians.  I’m also memorizing Psalms 1.  

Don’t Yell at Your Kids — Be a “Scary Whisperer”