The Story of My Life

I WON !!! A Bloggy Giveaway!! Thank You Bunny Bungalow!! http://thebunnysbungalow.blogspot.com/ And also made a new Bloggy friend. Like I need more blogs to obsessively read each day. I LOVE BLOGGING!! And free stuff.

I grew up in a small town with the nicest guy who always played drums in local bands. I always went to see him play with Hillbilly Romeos, Downtown Horns and a few more band he was with . He is Mike " Bubba " Bruce and a great, funny sweetheart. His recent front man is one of MY FAVORITE actors of all times, so I could not miss a chance to see them live. . The Boxmasters is Billy Bob Thornton's " Modbilly " band, a cross between British invasion and hillbilly (rockabilly) music. He technically called it Americana...and they have a video on CMT and a top 20 hit on the "Americana" charts. Now- you know I am a hairband kinda girl, but a do like a bit of country now and again. Regardless of your musical tastes, you had to love The Boxmasters !! SUCH TALENTED musicians and a range of instruments were used to create a sound so unique I can't even compare it to anything.....except for Johnny Cash and a bit of old gospel and the Beatles and throw in a...

I have a really great adventure to share, but have to be out and about today. Just let me say that I have a great story with some awesome pictures. Umm. Huh. And I 'll be aimin' to killing you with it. WITH SOME French Fried PoTaters. I know the suspense is killing you...... Check back tonight for ALL the details of my partners in crime and the GREAT photo ops....and many laughs and good times. And lets just say , I am too old for it already and just get that out of the way,

I ripped the back off my TV Guide and scotch taped it to my kitchen cabinet. Really. It is a full page Serengeti Sunglass Ad very similar to these.... and it says "when your eyes are relaxed, every road becomes the scenic route." Umm, my eyes are relaxed. and I must get some Serengeti....!!!!

I was tagged by Leigh for 6 Unspectacular Quirks about me: 1. My house is clean and spotless most of the time- I clean and straighten it every night before bed BUT My car is always nasty. 2. I too am addicted to hand sanitizer. I now found a mousse type in a small shaving-creamish can that I LOVE. 3. I am TOTALLY an addict to the 23 flavors of Dr. Pepper. More than twice daily. It is my drug. 10.2 and 4. 4. I change my hair color ALL the time. 5. I never touched a computer in high school or college...well maybe a few at the library in college....for research.....Bought one at Walmart and fell in love after I was married. I actually learned on a Mac too that year at school. And now I am a BIG OLD HONKING computer nerd !!!! (Another addiction, I guess....) 6. I secretly want to get another tattoo and be a biker chic in another life. And have bleached blonde Big Hair. Are those unspectacular? Are those quirks? Oh, I have plenty more. I tag Emmalee, Dull , Abbey, Jennifer , Hewy and ...

Things do not change; we change.~Henry David Thoreau~ The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.~Carl Rogers~ Life is always at some turning point.~Irwin Edman~ The one unchangeable certainty is that nothing is certain or unchangeable.~John F. Kennedy~ To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly.~Henri Bergson~ Once again I find myself in a state of change. Which hurts. I have stated that I do not like change. I know I should embrace new challenges. Learn to be more flexible. But I am such a routine oriented, OCD person that it just goes against every fiber of my being. Sometimes, the changes that I dread and am so anxious about end up being for the best. Well, most of the time, actually. I have had insomnia, been stressed and been really so ill that I can't stand myself this week. For no particular reason that I can put my finger on, other than we are going through tough changes- nothing re...

I found the book Hewy always refers to on Gnomes, and indeed the map highlights Helena as gnome territory. It also highlights my old stomping ground a little north of here where all our family mischief with gnomes takes place. How cool is THAT??? This is not Photoshop magic by Hewy, it is in fact, the map from the book by Wil Huygen, a Dutch author. He published an authoritative and comprehensive fact book in 1977 about Gnomes There is a 30th anniversary edition of the book for sale on Amazon and some other beautiful gnome selections as well. Not that I doubted you, Hew, just researching....... I found another a cool site while researching gnomes this morning- in my excitement over the Golden Gnome Hunt forthcoming. http://www.gnometownusa.com/ He has lots of gnomes and accessories for sale. And a t-shirt. Look at the gnome door !! How cute is that! I think I may just have to design and order a TEAM CHARNITA/LEIGH t-shirt and purchase them for my ...

I have loved photography forever. Hard to tell, huh? I just really got into it when I had children, of course. Then I really became interested in learning and getting better at it when the world went digital. I was the yearbook sponsor at Boaz High School and our reigning photographer was the great Bentley Gray. I had been toying with Photoshop and taking pictures, but he provided the yearbook staff with a digital SLR camera that was 6 mega pixels. I did not realize the differences this would make....and since that time I have gone crazy with photographs. He gave me a few pointers on choosing my camera, a lot of helpful hints on Photoshop- and a lot of inspiration. (Check him out..........) My dream is to open my own studio one day- a design studio with photography and all sorts of other fun stuff. But that is not what this post is about........ I take hundreds of pictures. Literally. Probably just about every day. I pick out the ones I want to order and get prints and organize and ...

No one even noticed my new layout. And let me just tell you 2 things: 1. I didn't mean to do it. 2. It took me several hours to fix one mistake. I am a technology specialist, yes I am. But even tech specialists click on "save new template" accidentally and undo all the hard work they have done setting up a blog for the past 7 months. Therefore, since I was back to Minima template with all my customization gone and had to start over anyways, I did a totally new template. I wanted a 3 column- not this particular three column but another one that I still have not perfected. So bear with me during this blog identity crisis. And feel free to comment your likes and dislikes. I may not listen, but welcome your opinions. I know just enough HTML and CSS to really screw things up and am obsessive enough to spend hours figuring out how to fix it. So, am designing new buttons, headers to my hearts content.....for the DREAM BLOG on the DREAM template. In the mean time, I am going to...

I have had a few things happen in the last week that have made me stop and think. You know as you get older you are supposed to learn lessons. And obviously some of us are slow learners and developmentally delayed when it comes to life. Lesson #1: When you have a child and are the female parent, you can never, ever take your eyes off of said child for any amount of time when father is out of town. Because if you do, even if your comfy lawn chair is sitting in the middle of your said 2 children, performing two different activities and you are strategically placed, dead center, as to watch both children simultaneously , ONE CHILD will get hurt. And that dear child will be all too happy to throw you under the bus while describing the accident to returning father. "It was because Mom was not keeping an eye on me." And really, do you know HOW people, including the father, look at you, when a precious little princess has a shiner, that looks worse, in many colors of black, blue, g...

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No, not really..... but you would think. Little Man had never played football but is very athletic and broad shouldered and definitley built for it. But his over protective mother would not have it. I preferered him to take nice, calm, quiet Tae Kwon Do and do skate boarding. Go figure. Like you can't get hurt at either of those sports. He reacher Black Belt and tested trained for a year and three ranks to his 2nd degree. And wanted to "take a break' so he can play football. So his father took him to sign ups.......take note of that sentence. And we began this week. 3 nights a week. And the parent must stay. At. Practice. So, I, who barely know a touchdown from a touchback from a sacrifice fly, have been to the parent meeting and all practices. HE LOVES IT. And gets his new UnderArmour cleats on about 3 hours prior to practice, along with his practice uniform and walks around on my hardwood floors. And believe me, coaches and parents alike feel the deep importance of foot...

Who pays $248 for a skirt??? No me. I just found a bunch of stuff on the clearance racks at Macy's (my favorite store.....well that I can afford.... forget Anthhropologie and Nordstroms, my real favs) and took them to a dressing room an tried things on. You know some days, nothing fits. But today everything fit!! I had $75 in gift cards and reward bucks and got even bigger savings, so HONEY, I saved us money. I got a beautiful hounds tooth slim skirt that is regularly $248!!!!!!!!!! for $48. Oh yes and that size says "0" as in ZERO, don't ya know! See there, saved two hundred dollars right there. And who is Ellen Tracy anyhow that her name on clothes cost so much???? I expect Versace for that much. But when Macy's friendly Johnnie rang things up, the original price shows up first then she scans again for a sale price. Talk about sticker shock. I do by some expensive clothes, but never that much for a SKIRT!!!!! I have been on the hunt for a good pair of jeans. ...

Leigh had reviewed this little jewel before and I had been dying to try it out. So this week I had a meeting to attend out Columbiana way and decided to swing by. I can't remember the last time I dined out alone and used to have a great phobia about it, but this day was so relaxing and nice. Bernie's was fabulous from the outside to the food. I was there during the lunch bar hours. I say bar, because I really do not like the buffet...not a fan due to the germ issue. But at Bernie's, someone fixes your lunch for you as you make your selections from the bar, which I appreciate. The menu was vast and the lunch menu was very economical. I had the meat and 3 lunch bar and let me say that I have had every kind of chicken in the world because I do not eat other kinds of meat generally. Except Pontchartrain Chicken. And it was wonderful- a grilled chicken breast cutlet covered in a "mushroomy" gravy that was perfect. I had a bowl of fruit, mashed potatoes and a green bean...

And the winner is......Jo Ellen. Family 4th Gnome hunt and now this...... Congratulations and thanks to all who played. My little man was the OFFICIAL BLOG GIVEAWAY JUDGE. And he wanted to register and keep the school supplies for himself. But I wouldn't let him. And I hogged the whole box of the ones they sent me. So thank you http://www.ezschoolsupplies.com/ ! Use EZMB070 as your Promo Code from my blog for 10% off!!! I will be placing an order with them soon and so should you!!!

I signed Baby Girl up for Pop Star Dance camp and it began today. She and KB and MB all dressed up so adorably......were so excited..... And my little one and Little Princess both say they are not going back tomorrow. We shall see! Dance Camp $125 Leotard, Tights, TuTu, Ballet Shoes, and sequined dance Bag: $100 A shot like this.....priceless. UPDATE: She did finish Pop Star Camp and learned THE CUTEST DANCE to Surfing USA, complete with beach ball and surfboard. After the initial shock of a strict list of rules and paying attention for 3 hour....which is long for a baby girl.....she had a great time and learned a lot. I highly recommend the Brimingham Dance Theater in Vestavia's Pop Star camp...ages 4-7. www.birminghamdancetheater.com

As you can see, after the excitement of 2 weeks of vacation, my life has kinda been a bit boring. Well, as boring as a mom of 2 kids like can be. I realized all my posts, since July 4th had been very impersonal..... That is because we haven't done anything!!! We have been hanging out with Princess and CO. and letting the kids play. I have been trying to get my house organized so as when I am no longer a stay home mom, we can survive. And Baby girl has had asthma problems since returning from my brother's for the 4th- so we have stayed indoors, to keep her cool and not coughing. So I play school, glitter glue and paint with her and while she rests, I have been Photoshopping and writing technical, informative blogs.......and reading other blogs. So, I am still here, living life, but as Leigh said, the blogging world is in a rut in my corner as well. But lots to report soon! Little Man and Football for the first time. Baby Girl and DANCE CAMP!!! Should be cute!! A review of my f...

I am so honored to be able to guest host the ever popular, world famous NO SLEEP in HELENA Blog this weekend while HEWY tries to get some sleep....... Check out what I contribute to No Sleep in his absence. Hurry Back, Hewy! We miss you.

I love getting packages..... AND I love school supplies. I think that is the reason I became an educator....so that I can continue to buy BACK TO SCHOOL supplies (and clothes) every year of my life. Keeps me young! So recently my world famous blog was contacted by to review some of their products and prices. They have everything you need for your back to school needs- from glue to crayons, from binders to that TRU RAY Construction paper teachers love. And the best part is, you do not have to get your butt out of your chair-- go to Walmart in the crowds and take your kids and end up buying lots of stuff that you do not need--- and having to stand in that long checkout line. Prices are competitive and selections are great, so check them out. From batteries to paint to notebooks and paper, they have it all. NO WAIT...the best part is....They sent me a free gift !! A goodie kit full of suprizes. And the best part, dear reader.....is they sent me one to give away to YOU TOO!!!! Oh yes!!! C...