Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

This is me, senior year of high school. I graduated in 2002.....yes, I am old but still young enough! Notice the bangs.....those are what made me "famous" *chuckle*
A few days before graduation, I wanted to get my hair trimmed so I took my broke little self to the local "Pro Cuts". That was the last time I stepped foot into one of those stores.....at least for myself. I told them NOT to touch the bangs and they trimmed 2 inches OFF of them so I had literally NO BANGS left. That is how I came to look like this:

This was actually taken in 2004, 2 years after I graduated and after I just stepped foot out of a "Regis" hair salon. No bangs! Yay! I had no bangs for about 5 years. *Also, note, that is my natural hair color*
Out of the blue, I decided I wanted to be spontaneous and crazy and color my hair a different color with some high lights as well as go back to some bangs.
I contacted an old high school friend who is a hairstylist and she agreed at a reasonable price to give me this look

 with this color

And VOILA here I am now

I am IN LOVE with it. After a few days, yes I will admit the bangs were getting on my nerves but I had to RE-train my hair to do what I wanted it to do. The hairstyle is so versatile as well. Here are other ways I have styled it.

 bangs to the side

 bangs pulled back

and everyone's fave...including my hubby and my mom is curled (because I have naturally curly hair)

I was brave, I trusted someone to do my hair and she did it wonderfully. I am already thinking of going back but going a bit more blonde this time. I am deathly afraid of blonde hair but everyone says the highlights look great and they think I will look good blonde. Hmmmm, we will see.

12. Take Pictures

Like I said in my last post, I am a photographer mommy, or as some like to call it a "momtog". I take pictures all the time. I will date this post to the latest date of my photos because I did not take these photos today. I love taking photos and have been since I swear I was born. *chuckle*

Photos are the windows to the soul. You can see the character, their thought, their wonder, their emotions as well as their personalities.

 This is my dear hubby (of almost 5 yrs I might add). In this photo, you can see he is happy....or is he. He was really being my guinea pig to test out my new lighting he gave me for Christmas '09. Thanks babe! Also, I feel, though, in the back of his mind he is probably saying "you can do this on your own. You are a smart cookie. I would really like to be downstairs watching Stargate Universe or playing Modern Warfare 2" He doesn't ever call me a smart cookie but I am sure if he was snazzy enough, he would! *chuckle*

 This is our newest family member. He has been a member since November '09. I named him Squirt because of his pint size stature BUT I think he is taking his name too literal as I have steamed cleaned pee out of our carpets a gazillion times. In this photo he is probably saying "mommy, why the hell do you have me on this stool? Really? I could fall off and get hurt. Get me off here or I will pee not just on the stool but on your pretty, nice, clean black backdrop." Snap....get off my stool and get in your bed!

My lil M&M at Grandma and Grandpa's farm in Missouri. Every so often, you will here "mommy, COWS!!!" from the back of the truck. He was ECSTATIC to see cows up close and especially to have one or more looking back him.

102 Things---The List

1. Set goals

2. Make contact (8/17/10 Done)

3. Ask questions

4. Volunteer time

5. Own up

6. Constrain yourself (8/22/10 Done)

7. Step back

8. Embrace change

9. Challenge yourself

10. Speak up

11. Create moments (8/17/10 Done)

12. Take pictures (7/21/10 Done)

13. Delegate responsibility

14. Stand out

15. Look up

16. Be patient

17. Carpe diem



18. Change focus


19. Have purpose

20. Don’t blame

21. Make promises

22. Practice discretion

23. Be sincere

24. Live urgently

25. Reread books

26. Life mission

27. Say no

28. Be romantic

29. Start anew (9/4/10 DONE)

30. Attend church (9/5/10 Done) 

31. Why not?

32. Act now

33. Plan parties

34. Show affection

35. Know happiness

36. Write something

37. Share laughter

38. Finish strong

39. Be approachable

40. Eliminate nonessentials

41. Don’t slouch

42. Keep healthy

43. Act naturally

44. Read books

45. Breed confidence

46. Be humble

47. Slow down

48. Be persistent (8/16/10 Done)

49. Treat yourself

50. Create precedents

51. Wake early

52. Update resume

53. Simplify things

54. Rearrange furniture (7/03/10 Done)

55. Breathe deep

56. Be honest

57. Plan vacations

58. Say thanks

59. Set examples

60. Ask why

61. Know yourself

62. No regrets

63. Deserve happiness

64. Write letters

65. Be charitable

66. Sort inboxes

67. Produce quality

68. Be curious

69. Be interesting

70. Work out

71. Call home

72. Be proactive

73. Give credit

74. Learn efficiently

75. Flirt more

76. Assure yourself

77. Be assertive

78. Make associations

79. Don’t quit

80. Surf smart

81. Work hard (8/17/10 Done)

82. Don’t apologize

83. Embrace happiness

84. Keep calm

85. Plan ahead

86. Don’t worry

87. Practice meditation

88. Think positive

89. Call someone

90. Take initiative

91. Experience nature

92. Look forward

93. Actively listen

94. Interpret dreams

95. Be brave

96. Rock out

97. Educate yourself

98. Do less

99. Find time

100. Make opportunities

101. Mentor someone

102. Be decisive

102 Things

This is a list of 102 Things to improve your life...and be the person you want to spend the rest of your life with. I was always told that you can't be happy until you are happy with yourself. Actually, I get told that by my husband a lot. I should really start listening to him! *chuckle* You have to love yourself inside and out.

I have a high school friend that does this and she is an inspiration. Not only was she a teen mom but she is also an army wife. She is strong, courageous and someone to look up to. She rocks! (You know who you are, if you read this).

I want to follow her example and start to love myself inside and out and be happy with myself as well as everyone around me. Not just for me but for my family and friends and coworkers as well.

Show me the....Love???

I am addicted to blogs. I will admit that. There are some humorous mom blogs I read daily, then there are some photography blogs I read daily and then just some all around blogs.

I usually have my fave blogs listed on the right hand side of my blog

-------------------------------------------------------------------------> over there

But I will make a list here as well so you can check them out yourself

1. Rita. She is a mom, a photographer, a blogger as well as an avid photoshop gal! I learned a lot of my photoshop skills from her.
Check her out at the Coffee Shop 

2. Morgan is from Texas and also a photographer/photoshopper. She taught me a few things as well.
Check her out at Morgan Kervin Photography

3. As a "momtog" I love reading blogs by other "momtogs" as well.
Check out Drew

4. So you see all these catalogs and think to yourself "Man, these people must have dogs, kids or boys living in their house"
If you share the same thought check out this blog that will having you laughing until the cows come home.

5. I am not big into Genealogy but my mother is and I read her blog every chance I get....okay whenever my other blogs have nothing interesting to read on them. I learn quite a bit. If you are into family history, check out her blog at All My Branches Genealogy

Flashback Friday

This is something I will be doing every Friday and maybe jumping on the bandwagon of "Wordless Wednesdays" as well....depends on how much I have to talk about. I already have a lot of catching up to do.

The idea to "Flashback Friday" is to post about anything in your past. Put up pictures of yourself in embarrassingly dated clothing or strange hairstyles that make you cringe and say "Oh God, why?". Tell the story of something that has happened.

 I coin the phrase "Why so serious?" from the Joker in the new Batman movie with Heath Ledger (Rest his soul) because darn it....look at the expressions on our faces.
From left to right: Me, my younger brother J, and my older sister S.
This photo was taken on my grandparents' farm in Missouri in 1991.
My questions are:
1. Who took the photo?
2. Why are we so serious?
3. Why are we in "school pose" with our hands placed neatly on that itchy hay bale?
4. And why the HECK do we all have "California" surfer boy hair? *chuckle*

I Sound Like My Mother

Ha, I laugh each time I say that in my head or out loud. Even my mom laughs about it. I came up with this blog name because I DO sound like my mom. I can be getting onto the kids and after I say something I announce OUT LOUD "Oh crap, I sound like my mother." There are even times when my husband or my own mother have to let me in on when I sound like my mom. I love my mom; she is my best friend and I would not trade it for the world. Yes, at times I wish I could sound like me and not her but she is wise and knows well.

Okay, so...I mentioned "kids". Yes, I have 2. Well, I didn't HAVE 2 kids but I raise 2 kids. I have a 15 yr old step son who will be in 9th grade this year. OMG (oh my gosh!!) where did time go? The first time I met my step son was when he was 7 and his dad and I went to pick him up from 3rd grade. I am not sure if I should be expecting a bunch of girls or ONE girl (friend) coming to our house or if I should be anticipating a bunch of teenage boys in my house. Not ready for that one! I better get the pantry stocked up JUST in case! For blogging and safety purposes, I will just call him in the blog "step son". I am sure you guys can be smart enough to figure that one out!

I also have a 4 yr old lil man. He is the light of my life. He teaches me a lot without even knowing it! My nephew was about his age when I found out I was pregnant. My last name starts with an M and so we got to calling my "baby bean" M&M. Therefore that is what he will be referred to in this blog. He loves playing the PS3 and yes he is VERY smart when it comes to that contraption. He loves "lego" games. Right now he has and still does play Batman Lego as well as the Indiana Jones Lego.

I am also a married woman. I have been married almost 5 years now come October. Wow, can't believe out of all the tough times and rocky roads, we have almost made it to 5 years. My husband may be 9 years older than me but as I tell everyone "so what, age doesn't matter".

I work as a sales associate as well as a mommy. Being a mommy is a 24/7 job and that job is NEVER ENDING. I love my job at Rally House (where I work). The employees are AWESOME. I couldn't ask for better. I am not even sure they get better than that! My DM (District Manager) as well as Manager are the COOLEST people to work for. I have only been working for a little while now and already in training to be a key holder for the store as well as do some "managerial" stuff so that way the manager and sales lead can take some time off!

This is my blog about being a LONG TIME stay at home mommy and what I learned, being a working mommy and making time for family and friends, being a wife, being a friend, and pretty much just about me being me sounding like my mother!