Contest Winner

This weeks Giveaway was determined by my husband picking a random number while he laid on the bed behind me waiting for the PC.

#4 was JJSweep.

JJ email me at alliejeffery (at) gmail (dot) com and let me know what flavor coffee you would like and your mailing address!!

Yay JJ!!

Tune in Monday for Giveaway week #6!!

Thankful!

In the tradition of Thanksgiving (the forgotten holiday of the other white meat) I give you a writing prompt for TOMORROW!

Tomorrow we will be writing about something we're thankful for that happened to SOMEONE ELSE!

It's not about you. Understand?

So make your post and come back and leave a comment... (or leave a comment if you don't want to post) and tell us what you're thankful for.

Who's your favorite FatGirl?

When was the last time you clicked on FatGirlEats? There are lots of new and interesting things happening over there like family thanksgiving recipes and good old fashioned yummy fatgirl favorites. Click and check it out!

Boy vs Girl Brains Video

My mother in law sent me this video in an email. I laughed so hard I almost cried. My husband has a nothing box and he spends a good deal of time there while I ask about it because it's driving me CRAZY. So for those of you out there with a boy in your life...click play and enjoy...

7 Weeks Giveaway Reminder

Don't forget that today is the last day this week to enter the 7 weeks GiveAway for a pound of free Starbucks Coffee.

For more information click this link.

Change is Coming...

I found myself itching for something to do on Election Day (Tuesday) so I packed my kid and headed to the library (which was closed) and then the grocery store (which we only got 2 things at) and reluctantly headed back home to see if there were any calls from the J O B I've had 3 interviews for. (Their weren't)

I shut the garage door on the bumper of my car. My daughter had a melt down before her afternoon nap. Needless to say I was wondering if the day could get any worse.

Then it happened. My phone rang and I could feel change in the air. I don't know why I felt that way I just did. I got a job interview Friday afternoon. Then with a little hop in my step I went to work trying to get the baby to say the world "sarah" and while we were playing "ssssss aaa aaah" the phone rang again. I got another job interview (phone) Friday afternoon... earlier.

I already had lunch plans Friday so I was excited by two things...the thrill of having things to do and the prospect that I might be employable. Forget voting (I already did absentee...but you know what I mean) this was getting exciting.

After the hubby got home I got a mystery unknown number call and when I held my breath for a credit collector I found myself talking to YET another INTERVIEW. I know. Be still my heart. This one was for tomorrow.

Still no word from the J O B down the street. But I'm feeling better about the prospects. And that's something isn't it.

As it is...

I was talking on Election night with the hubby and I commented...

"Doesn't it seem odd that by the time our daughter is old enough to vote, selecting a black man will be no big deal...because it's already happened in her first year of life."

By the time she is 18 your ethnicity won't matter as much as it did this year. 2008. The year I voted for change and the world did change because we all believed in "yes I can". I didn't vote for a Democrat, I didn't vote for a black man, I voted for something bigger... I voted for "unyeilding hope" because right now I could use some...and so could most of the other people I know.

In 20 years this topic won't phase her. Just like casting my ballot doesn't phase me as much as the women who not so long ago stood with signs asking for that same opportunity.

And the world changed... and we were there.

Works 4 Me Wednesday

This week on works for me wednesday (W4MW) we're supposed to talk about toys that are actually worth buying because it's the once a month themed W4MW.

I think Layla's ultimate favorite toy so far was the First Act Fun in a Drum set she got for her birthday this year. Layla is really into drumming on things with things (she's 1 and her father is a drummer) and this set is small and light so she can carry it around. It also came with some other musical instruments which all fit inside the drum for easy storage. It comes with a variety of colors and designs and it's only $30. It's not the type of drum that gets a kid started for Marching Band or Rock Bands in High School but it was a perfect toy for my little one. You can purchase one at Toys R Us by clicking the link here.

Wordless Wednesday- Coo Coo Dance

Active Parenting

Her hands are over her head making opening and closing pincher grasps as the song is sung...

"twinkly twinkle little star"

Her feet are stomping as the music plays and the Coo Coo bird hops on the tv...

"coo coo cah choo"

Her hands are clapping and her head is turning side to side as we celebrate....

"yay for Layla"

Her head is shaking and her face is bitter...

"oh no no big troubles"

Her lips are smacking and her eyes are wide...

"num num morah"

Her tongue is out and her fist is raised...

"rock star"

Her butt is shaking and her booty bumping as the music pumps from the stereo...

"dancing queen"

Her hands are waving side to side and her beads are swinging...

"round and round and round it goes"

Her mouth is open and her hand is making her sound like an indian at a bon fire...

"wha wha wha"

Her finger is straight because music time is over...

"shhh"

She runs past me and quickly up the stairs...

"upity up it"

She reaches high for my arms to swoop her out of bed...

"get it up"

She toddles away her hands waving bye bye...

"a bye bye i go"

This is what attachment parenting, cohabitational sleeping and interactive play with music has given me. This is what turning off the tv, working with words early and using hand signs has brought up in this little girl. She is a constant stir of active emotion, she is a brilliant flash of sparkly love, she boils over, she bubbles up and she is confident that she can do it... and she's not afraid to tell you that if you forget.

"stop it"
"i dude it"

She takes the toy from my hand and marches off to figure out how it works. My one time demo over and her curiosity abounding. She will figure it out, probably when I'm not looking. But I'll notice, because she is strikingly beautiful in her independence.

7 Weeks Giveaway!!

You guessed it... it's only 7 weeks until Christmas now... so here's another writing prompt and a chance to win... MORE COFFEE from STARBUCKS!! Aren't you excited.

Please make sure you check back to previous weeks and make sure that if you've already won you email me at alliejeffery (at) gmail (dot) com so that I can get your prize to you. Some of you haven't been good about that. LOL

This week we'll be talking about the best gift you've ever given or gotten for Christmas (your choice you don't have to do both unless you want to).

Can you believe it's only 7 weeks until Christmas? Ok moving on...

This contest ends FRIDAY November 7th and winners will be announced Sunday November 9th.

To enter you have 3 options...

1. Post a comment below with the best gift you've ever given or gotten in it (1 entry). Yes! Posting a link you your blog counts for the 1 entry.

2. If you post a link from your blog back to this blog talking about the contest (1 entry), this can combine with option 1 for a total of 2 entries.

3. If you trick get someone else to leave a comment saying they heard about this blog from your blog and they enter our little contest I'll give you one more chance to win (1 entry) for a total of 3 lovely entries.

You may not get more than 3 enteries. Please and thank you. The winner gets a 1 lb bag (their choice of flavor) of whole bean Starbucks Coffee.

Good luck!!

Happy Belated Birthday Mandi!!

This is my sister in law Amanda...only I've called her Mandi since I met her because that's what my husband called her when he introduced me to her. Mandi and I met at an exceptionally weird time in a very weird way...my husband literally took me home and introduced me to his family because he had ALREADY asked me to marry him and I said yes. I thought Mandi hated me when she first met me... in her defense she was EXTREMELY pregnant at the time and her brother was springing a fiance on her like it was no big deal.

Needless to say it took me awhile to appreciate the great things about Mandi because I was terrified of her for awhile. She is unwaveringly loyal, exceptionally forgiving of stupid people, and she has an ability to let her daughter experience life without getting in the way that I am slightly jealous of sometimes when I am hovering over my own child for no reason.

In addition to all those cool things she's also the kind of girl who will almost always be up for going and doing almost anything... like the picture above where she came to a "rock star" party for my birthday all decked out like a rock star without blinking an eye.

Well, today yesterday was her birthday so HAPPY BIRTHDAY MANDI and much love from the suprise sister in law you didn't know you were getting...

Must be Santa Monday

So last week I posted my entire Christmas list and my daughter's entire list is up on her site but because her site is private I know some of you can't get that link to work so I thought I'd talk about one of the top things on her list.

A pretend kitchen *sigh* every little girls dream. Every Mommy dreams of them too... in hopes they will keep a child out of the tupperware drawer in the REAL kitchen, but I digress.

My favorite pretend kitchen was pointed out to me by Grammi Teri who saw it at Costco. It's a vintage kitchen by Kolcraft ...

Isn't it ADORABLE! I know. I mean plastic kitchens are cute but how can anything compare to the cuteness of this little vintage number.

Adorablistic

My mother calls my daughter Adorablistic. It's her own little word for the phenomenon we witness most of the time when we leave the house. She's just a cute kid people, I thought I was bias but I have come to the conclusion she's just too cute for her own good.

People stop us in the grocery store. People talk to her in the cart at Target. Random strangers walk up to us mid meal to talk to her in restaurants. Some people touch her (which pisses off the hubby to no end) almost everyone smiles and waves at her.

I travel with a lot of other people with kids. I don't see it happen so much with other kids. So I started asking. It's just us.

I mean I know she's cute... but geez.

It's like her own little fan club follows her everywhere. I'm worried the world is setting her up for a let down. Or worse yet, that I'll have to give her a smack down when she's in Jr High because she's got a pretty girl complex. *shudder*

This week we went to visit Pops (her Great Grandpa Ira) in the hospital in our Halloween costume. My little ladybug walked (legs still like a Y) all the way across the lobby and down the hall (buzzing from left to right) as people around us flocked, pointed and clamored at how cute she was. Out of the elevator and down the the hall to his room it continues. Someone took a picture of her with their phone. I didn't stab them in the eye with a spork but I thought about it.

My mom and Pop's wife Irene both noticed it on the way to and from the food court. I'd say 4 out of 5 people stop to talk to or admire my kid. It scares the shit out of me. While I should be grateful that she's beautiful I spend every moment with an eye or hand on her. My mom took her for a little lap around the food court while I got her food ready. Every doctor, nurse and random stranger in the joint talked to her or pointed to her and I felt like the world tilted on it's axis. I panicked. I made my mom bring her directly to her chair.

I worry she'll get lost or stolen because she's so confident and friendly she'd probably follow anyone with a puppy home. So I bounce between beaming with pride, frustrated, happy and totally freaked out the whole way in and out of any public place.

I guess it could be worse. She could be a bitter beer face baby. They get just as much attention but for the wrong reason.

Stop laughing... you're going to hell with me.

Menu Plan Monday

~Monday~

Fiesta Taco Soup or Stuffed Bell Peppers

~Tuesday~

Chicken & Mushroom Casserole

~Wednesday~

Pasta Carbonara (probably spaghetti)

~Thursday~

BLT Quesadillas with Guacamole

~Friday~

Chuck Roast with Red Potatoes and Carrots

~Saturday~

Italian Sausage and Balsamic Farfalle

~Sunday~

Chicken & Cilantro Soup

And the Winner REALLY is...

Ellie who is from Garland Tx, your email address isn't working hun in the link... so email me at alliejeffery (at) gmail (dot) com and tell me what letter you'd like and what flavor of coffee you want.

CONGRADULATIONS ELLIE!!

NaBloPoMo Again!!

As some of you know already, every November is National Blog Post Month. You can get more information about joining NaBloPoMo by clicking the picture above or clicking this link. The synopsis is a commitment to blog every day for the month of November. I was a drop out two years ago but I made it the whole month last year. Let's see how we do this year. I'll link the randomizer in the side bar tomorrow so you can get more information on other people involved in the NaBloPoMo.

I really did blog yesterday and today I just was a little late with the link...so I'm in...Wish me luck.

Void

There is a little rumble in the bottom of my heart. This month will be a HARD month financially for the family and I am not looking forward to the chaos that will come with having NO money for a period of time. It also marks the last month of my UI benefits and I'll have to try and getting the ever ellusive EXTENSION. I am not looking forward to that.

I'm easy to frustrate and panic when money is this tight and I know it. I feel like I'm walking around with an egg trying not to break it while I struggle with day to day things that could and would be much easier if I just got both hands free.

I clamber for something to do that would relax me. Cleaning no longer works, cooking no longer works, I can't sleep well, I read...but so fast that it's not giving me calm because I'm constantly yearning for more to read. I try to pray... but that makes me feel the void even more.

If this is a test... I'll be lucky if I skim past it with a passing grade. How's that for Christian honesty?

Contest Winner

I am having a little trouble with the randomizer.... so winners for last week's contest will not be up until Monday. Sorry for the delay!!

Hello November

Like someone had planned it, the weather swept in cool and damp the day before Halloween providing the local children a calm dark evening to creep along the streets in search of candy. Scenes from an old paperback novel recreated themselves around us as we made our trip. Autumn leaves dancing on the wind, little puddles reflecting the headlights of the car, and a slight scent of burning wood wafting over the world around us as we proceeded past the houses with fires in their fireplaces and bite sized candies by the front door.

Anxiously the world watched as a magically evening made children and adult alike pretend to be something more. Something more playful, or scary, something without bills sitting on their desk or work in their inbox. That is what Halloween has become for me. It used to be a pagan holiday filled with so much fellowship for me that the first year of my Christianity it was like trying to avoid the best drug I'd ever had. Last year I was graced with a newborn and halloween was just a flicker on my radar. But this year, I worried would be the year I longed for what I used to be... what I used to do... what I used to know.

Then it was here and I ensured myself that with a busy schedule and a toddler I wouldn't even notice but I still awoke that morning moarning the magic of what used to be. There was a long and silent prayer to God in my heart. A prayer for peace... I suppose.

I guess I shouldn't have been suprised when I noticed the world around me was still magical. I shouldn't have been suprised when I started to see God where I had once seen a different kind of magic. After all he was always there. He was the wind that lifted the leaves around me, he was the light that reflected in the puddle, he was the warmth that came from the fires glow. I had been looking in the wrong place.

So now it is November and once again, like so many times before I find myself making a hard and conscience effort to see it. To open my eyes and let the season of thanksgiving and the season of hope glitter in the little things around me. The little things that remind me of where I came from, where I am, where I am going and of the faith that was always with me.