It's almost been a year since I have blogged.....

As I was about to start a brand "new" crisp, blog, my old blog page came up. I decided it was much easier to stick with this one. Will I do a blog name change and page layout?  Huge possibility! It just made me smile that even though I may have had one reader in the past, it was nice to look back on some of my posts and what I was doing and how much Delaney has grown!

I could probably count upto five blogs I have started throughout college and  at different points of my life. I do like to write and express myself, no doubt, but, when you look at things from different perspectives, it really changes how you look at things in general. In this instance, I am referring to blogging.  Come on now, if you are an avid blogger, who doesn't want to be the next "Carrie" on Sex and the City, or Julia Child, food enthusiast, or let alone, another  awesome "mom" blogger to show off how awesome a craft was and  that she can meal plan like none other??!  In reality, it doesn't matter if I am a New York Times Bestseller, or if I have an audience of one, that is better than no one. I  really need to stick to that this time.

And while I am blogging about my non-blogging existence,  social media just gets redundant; it has become second nature to us. We have all tried to stray away from it, but I think it really is just a huge generational change that is probably sticking around for a while. I kind of look at it like cable television. Do you think former generations that were introduced to cable television, said, "Now wait a minute, what has this television done to our family time, I think I will just take it back to the store?!" I don't hardly think so; however, it is a similar comparison  of how social media is evolving and sometimes controlling our lives. I know I am just rambling right now, but my fingers got a little "type happy".  Ha! Really though, it is just like anything else, and how we use or abuse things. So, even though I get frustrated with social media, and promise not to post pictures of Delaney using the potty like some mothers do, I will choose to let the words flow and let the audience find me., you might find out you like what I write about. :) You may not even chose to read my blog yourself, but you could see a post that may make someone's day.   I follow great friends that blog, that have asked me to come back to the blog world a time or two....drumroll please......... Devan and Sarah...lol Even though we don't talk everyday, sometimes their blog post is just what you may need to hear, or it maybe something they are going through that you don't feel alone. Check them out! Cheers to bloggers!

Shine That Sink

Yeah, I know, it has been a while since I have blogged. I think the last time I blogged, I talked about that I missed blogging, and I needed to catch up. I know I only have eight followers, but that's better than zero, right?  Anyway, let's talk about cleaning. Fun stuff, right? I think I have mentioned before on my blog about getting better organized and a cleaning schedule with a little tot running around. :)

I mean come on, who doesn't like a clean, crisp, spotless house, that smells good? I do, but I am not a perfectionist, nor have the time. As I have said before, I would rather color with Delaney, then wash windows or something. My goal is to just have a system. It is impossible to think your house is going to be spotless with a toddler, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I think I just need to de-clutter, and have a solid routine.

Moms, you know how it goes, toys, and clothes accumulate, and before you know it, your guest room, or whatever room, becomes your "panic-room-everytime-I-look-in-it-room". Let's just say, I have a new friend, and I am going to try her system and see how I like it.

Her name is FlyLady
, on www.flylady.net I had a friend tell me about this, and she has been using this system around her house. Here is how to get started, http://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/ and here I am on Day 2.

She talks about having a system, and she is really motivational. You house is did not get cluttered in a day, and you can't get it de-cluttered in a day either. She is big on setting a timer for 15 minutes daily and de-cluttering somthing, and not to wear your self-down. I think that is what happens with me, I let things go too long and get overwhelmed. I mean of course I do laundry weekly, change my sheets weekly, etc, but come on, do each one of you all out there in the blogosphere clean up your dishes every night and have a spotless sink? Flylady is big on a clean sink. I will be the first to admit, that I always don't. Even though I might be too tired, I am going to achieve this goal as Flylady's first baby step:always clean up your dishes and sink so they won't overwhelm you the next day, and you can start fresh with clean dishes. 

I don't let my dishes pile up for a week or anything like that, I will just do them as I go sometimes, or other times I will have the kitchen all nice and clean. I mean how many times do we get stuff out of the dishwasher to use, if we don't get to putting them up right away? Or is it just me?

Let's get to cleaning those sink's tonight! Does anyone else have a system they do, tried Flylady, or want to join me?

H54F+ramble

Hello there!  It has been over a month since I have blogged. I will admit, I was in a blog funk. I think every blogger, with the exceptions of the super, duper awesome bloggers who get like 150,000,000 views a day, get busy with things, and think that their little-free-blog-domain on blogspot.com doesn't matter.

Well, if you are one of those bloggers and get in blog funks, it does matter. It is probably theraputic sometimes for you and your blog probably helps other people. I think sometimes we are worried about what we say on our blog that will offend somebody. I am not out to do that. at all, I am just speaking for other bloggers.  Some people are more open with their blogs than others, but if someone doesn't like what you have to say, it will be ok. Your true blog followers I think would support you no matter what!

I know that I love reading blogs full of crafts, random tips, expressive stuff, and most importantly mom stuff. I like reading things that have helped me or have been great ideas. So a shout out to all my random blogs that I come upon and love! I don't even know who you are, but your blogs are awesome. To my blog friends, I love reading your blogs to because of that personal connection we have. Like it or not, we live in a social media world full of tweets, and status updates, and blah, blah, blah. I know sometimes that can be overwhelming sometimes. What did we do before all of this? Did we really communicate more and write personal letters and actually verbally communicate more, or is it about the same and  it is just in a different form? Social media definitely has it's pros and cons, for sure. On that note, I feel like I am writing a book report on social media and that this is ramble. HA!!


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1. Delaney bug and I had such an awesome time with Bdile Photography for her 18-month shoot and some mommy-daughter pics. D is getting so big and talking up a storm! Loved them! Check out Bdile Photography on facebook!!


2. Hallowen is next week. I was going to make Delaney's costume again like I did last year, but the one her Nana got her at one of the kids consignment sale is too cute on her to pass up this year. It fits her to a T. Can't wait for you to see it!

3. I watched some of the Blue/White game and as always, we will all support our CATS, but I think we are still hyped up from our #8 win that we still have a lot of warming up to do to this team.

4. My Hot Mess to Hot Mama is still ongoing, but that is just another talk show in itself. I did get my hair trimmed up and some Hot mamish color in it, so it's all good. Also, it is that time of year, for the pounds to go up instead of down. Darn Holiday food, ha!  I will try to pin and try some low cal alternatives to sweet treats that I have had my eye on. I will let you know how they turn out.

5. I know I always post a lot about the weather, but who doesn't love fall!!

Hot Mess Monday!

I have been slacking some on my "Hot Mess" posts. I do, however, want to say, that I am so glad Sarah and Devan are along in this journey together. I think we all are learning from this journey. Even though I am not down 10 pounds, yet, I am more conscious for sure about my eating habits. My starting weight was 156 pounds, and I am 154 pounds this week. Maybe I have just lost inches?  I think I fluctuate, because I fluctuate I guess? I can also still fit into size six jeans with out unbuttoning them, ha! For a while there, I was felt bloated in size 8 jeans. I still wear them, but they are loose!

 I think all of us momma's in this journey are learning that we are more than a number on a scale. I may never be 135-145 pounds again, and that is ok. So, from now on, with my posts, I may not rant about losing or gaining a pound, but I will post a healthy tip, an encouraging word for others in this healthier/weight loss journey,still update on the weight loss from time-to-time, or just laugh about how we are all Hot Messes on Monday! ;)

This is my grocery cart from today. Enough said. LOL!

Sweetie pie!

Notice the bottom picture, Laney making a hot mess. :)

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I didn't have a chance to post last Friday, so I will add an extra that I am high fivin'!


1. My Laney is feeling better today! She has had a temp for three days with a ear and viral infection. She picks up on new things everyday and is the sweetest and spunkiest girl I know! Story of the day: getting a sprite can out of the "recycle" trash can and giving it to her babydoll! LOL!

2. As much as I don't like Facebook sometimes, and the drama it can cause, I have loved seeing all of the support and thumbs up for Lane Goodwin, the young Kentucky boy fighting cancer. Delaney and I give him virtual thumbs up for being so strong!

3. This weather brought out my first pot of soup for the season. ;) I made potato soup. I am thinking veggie soup this weekend. What is your favorite soup recipe?

4. Last weekend I had an absolute blast seeing some of my UK alumni friends at the UK AgRoudup. Even though it had been three years since I saw some of them last, it seemed just like yesterday too.

5. I am hopefully about to initiate a better organized house. I know I am a mom,  I have a toddler, I am working on another degree, and I am tired a lot, but I think that I wouldn't have a mini-breakdown every time I entered my house if maybe if I spent a Saturday making some freezer meals in advance or making my breakfast for the week. Tips are always welcome!

6. There is lot of fun things to do for the fall season. Laney went to a pumpkin patch last year, but she was just 5-months-old. I have a friend who made a fall bucket list that was too cute, and  I will probably make soon!

Hot Mess Monday

I know it has been a couple of weeks since I have posted, but the last time I checked in, I said I was going to start stressing less about my weight numbers and focusing more on diet and exercise. Good news is, my size 6 jeans went on pretty well this week. I had been wearing size 8's more, because the 6's were a little too tight for me. Bad news is, I still weigh the same. I mean it is not really bad news, it is just not where I would exactly like to be. I really would like to just knock off ten pounds. I realize some days I eat and do wonderful and just feel like I am "little-miss-"healthy" and other times I have a day(s) where I have no self-control, or I will just be an emotional eater, or I am tired, or Delaney and I just baked cookies for the fun of it, and I probably eat more than I am allotted. I went four days without a soft-drink, and I caved.

My goal is not to be on the cover of sports illustrated, I just want to lose just a few and tone my belly ( that, really, I am super proud and amazed at, that carried my sweet, sweet angel for nine months, but it definitely isn't going to be rocking a bikini anytime soon, lol!)

I have heard that the midsection "pooch" never goes away, hence "mom" jeans and other little new tricks we all are learning, right? Time flies by so fast, and like me, I am like ok, Delaney is 16-months, I should "bouncing back" by now. Granted, nursing did knock off all of my weight I gained while I was pregnant, but things. are.just.different.
 I don't know if it is just me, but I think all of us women sometimes try to beat ourselves up and compare things to other, it is just human nature, but in reality, we all are beautiful, hot mamas. Realistically, I mean, I am sorry, I am not bashing on naturally flat-bellied gals after their babies, but I feel like if I did a poll, we all have mid-section issues, or am I completely off base?

Check out this yahoo article, about women's eight biggest eating mistakes. It was helpful. On anther note, I have never been a huge fan of frozen meals, but has anyone tried Weight Watchers Smart Ones? I have been wondering how they are. Goal this week, try not to have as many non-self control days.  Bottom line, I'll either keep working on it, or just stick to eating healthier and embracing what I have.  LOL!

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I was glad to see I had some page views before I posted! Thanks!

H54F!

1. It amazes me how much my little Delaney is learning and growing. She is such a big little girl at her new pre-pre school, as I called it. She is liking playing with doctor's kits and farm animals...a future vet maybe? :)

2. There is a new show coming on TLC that I am pretty excited about. I am fascinated with culture(s) in general, but this show, "Breaking Amish" is about Amish wanting to explore the outside world. Don't laugh, but it looks interesting.

3. I just love Market Off Main in Campbellsville. I stopped by there today, this making my third visit there, and it just keeps growing.

4. I totally rocked out that pumpkin candle I was talking about last week, I am all about some fall.

5. Paula Dean has come out with some new "sauces". I bought the Savannah Marinade. There has not been a recipe of hers that I have not liked. So, after I marinaded some chicken, I approve her line of sauces too! Who doesn't love that woman and her "southern-ness?"

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