The Real Housewives of Atlanta

All I can say is OH MY! Last night I watched the preview episode of R.H., and this season they are women who live in the Atlanta area. (Alpharetta, Sandy Springs, and Duluth.....too close for comfort if you ask me! ha!) The women are the most indulgent I've seen yet! It's NUTS what money can do to you......................I can honestly say that nothing about their lives is enticing. The complete and utter OVER indulgence of wealth and what they consider power is just plain sickening. But then I found myself feeling sorry for them, because all their riches are here on this earth, and they put SO much stock in them, not seeming to realize that TRUE riches are stored up for us in heaven, and not on this earth!...........................Anyways, I just thought I would blog about it, because I found it interesting that this season the women are from Atlanta......................I will say that if all the episodes are as shallow as what I saw last night, I probably won't watch much. The regular episodes start in September on Bravo.

Giveaway

My sweet friend Canela from Cinnamon*Sticks is giving this necklace away to one lucky reader! All you have to do is leave her a comment on her blog! That's it! So what are you waiting for get over there!!

Special Friends

When Craig and I first got married, I applied for a nanny job with someone who was bringing back two adopted kids from the Ukraine. I got the job, and was there the day Kate (their mom) brought home K.C. (Katherine Clementine), and Cola (Nicholas). I had only been there a few months when I found out that I was pregnant, so I worked through most of my pregnancy, but quit right before I had Carter. After I had Carter, Kate went to Russia to adopt ANOTHER child, bringing home Cara. Shortly after that she contacted me wanting to know if I would be interested in working for her one day a week, and If so, I could bring Carter with me. So, I did, the kids all became GREAT friends, and we still get together whenever we can!
Today we were able to spend the day with them doing a little of this:

We had a great day..........too bad it has ended with Carter getting a stomach bug and throwing up everywhere.................Oh, I HOPE this is a FAST bug! He has to start school on Monday!! Yes! You heard me, SCHOOL STARTS MONDAY!! UUGGGGHHHHH!

Today's Randomness

After the FIASCO at the mall yesterday, I decided that sanity trumped ANYTHING that would require getting into my car with the kids and going ANYWHERE! So, we headed to the pool, just the three of us. The day was relatively eventless with only a couple screams, shoves and eyes almost being poked out. Hey! That's a GOOD day!! I'm on my knees praising God for the PEACEFUL day we had here!!

I thought I would take a picture of my flowers when I got home from the pool today. You might remember these, as I posted pictures of them on Mother's Day because they were my Mother's Day present. (The picture above is the original picture taken on Mother's Day)
Well, despite the heat, drought,and the fact that we have been gone half the summer, Craig has managed to not only keep these flowers alive, but LOOK how much they've grown!!! (down below)It's AMAZING! And the flowers in the pot were barely visible at Mother's Day! Way to go Craig! (he's definitely the green thumb of the family....If I were in charge of them, they wouldn't have made it past Mother's Day at all!!) Thanks also to our parents who helped water them while we were gone!!
I have enjoyed my flowers so much this summer, I will be sad when the weather turns, and these die........but until then, I love driving up to my house everyday and looking at them!

These boots were made for...

Pouting. Crying. Screaming. Kicking. Anything BUT walking!!
YES! Our sweet, loving, precious Ava did not have one of her better days today. This weekend I bought her some cowgirl boots for her upcoming cowgirl party (more on that LATER!!), and since she saw them, they have barely been off of her feet. So of course she HAD to wear them to the mall today.
Now let me start with saying that I HATE going to the mall with both of my children. Carter absolutely detests anything at all that has to do with any kind of shopping, therefore making it
miserable to go to these places with him. He whines and complains the entire time! (hubs is EXACTLY the same way, so Carter comes by it honestly). BUT, I really needed to go to Teavana today, and they are of course AT THE MALL!!
So, in we troop......30 seconds inside door...Carter: "Are you SURE we have to come here?
What do you NEED anyways? I'm pretty sure I saw some tea with daddy's coffee....so you don't HAVE to get some today. Come on Ava, we're leaving."........let's just say he probably shouldn't have used physical force to turn Ava around. First KICK of the day. Retaliation leads to first SCREAM of the day. Me in my under my breath voice with gritting teeth: "If you two don't knock it off right now, we're going to leave, and you are going straight to your rooms for the rest of the day!!".....Carter: "Well, it would be better than this place."
(apparently my son has completely LOST HIS MIND to think he can talk to me that way......which led us to first CRY of the day!.......)
Fifty more complaints, two kicks, three shoves, and a hair yank later, we made it ALL THE WAY from Dillards to Teavana. (four stores away from each other:-) All I needed at that point was a partridge in a pear tree! (or a HEAVY drug.....and I am OPEN to suggestions on this!!......JK.......... not really......seriously.)
I told them that if they would just let me PLEASE get my tea without them getting me escorted out, we could LOOK in the Disney store next door.

First POUT of the day. And that was COMPLETELY my fault don't ya know. I mean WHY in the world I wouldn't buy my daughter a Cinderella costume, a stuffed puppy, and a Wall-e robot is totally beyond me!! Which of course leads to SECOND cry of the day. TIME TO LEAVE.................The trek back to the car did NOT get any better.........at this point I am now looking for drugs for THEM.......and again, I am OPEN to suggestions here.........this time NOT kidding!

If I EVER talk about going to the mall again with my OBNOXIOUS children..........CALL THE POLICE! Because I have obviously lost MY mind!!!!!

Grosgrain giveaway!

Grosgrain has just made this adorable little skirt, and is giving it away to one LUCKY winner!
Go to her blog for details on how to enter and win!

Fab Giveaway!!

Jayne from Bunny Chic Boutique has been offered a new position as the National Account Executive for Fairy Tale Jewels. Congratulations Jayne!!
In honor of her new responsibilities she is awarding a $100 gift certificate to be spent in the Fairy Tale Jewels shop where you can find adorable custom made jewlery for the princess in your home, among other "glam" gifts.
Visit Jayne's blog for details on how to enter!
Good luck!

Dear Jesus,

I know y'all have probably seen this more than once already, but EVERY TIME someone sends me this email, I smile! I think it is one of the cutest pictures I have ever been sent!
Anyways, just wanted to share, and maybe put a smile on your face like it does mine!
Happy Sunday!

Back and REJUVINATED!

Well, I am home from my overnight cabin trip, and I must say I feel VERY rested! Yay! Yesterday afternoon we went North about thirty minutes to the mountains where Ivette has an Awesome cabin. We stopped at the grocery store before taking off to gather our dinner and snacks for the evening.
Upon arriving I was greeted by a HUMONGOUS spider.........and MANY screams and shouts later, Tams came to the rescue capturing the horrendous creature and sealing its fate. Thanx Tams!
That was IT for Drama! THREE women, and that was the only drama of the night!!!! (well, there was ONE more thing......but this is a FAMILY show here........)

I can honestly say we were a dictionary definition of doing absolutely NOTHING!! Except chill, talk, watch movies, and talk some more.........I couldn't have asked for a more relaxing QUIET time. We slept in this morning, ate breakfast, talked, laughed, talked, and laughed a little more, packed it up, went to lunch, and drove home.

Simple and EXACTLY what I needed! Thanks Ivette for sharing your cabin with us, and thanx Tam for saving my life last night!! You ROCK!

I went on the front deck this morning, and this is what was out there.........LUV it!!

Cabin Fever!

I'm off for some MUCH NEEDED rest and relaxation with some of my favorite gal pals! No computers, no phones, no kiddos, no hubbys........total peace and quiet (well, besides the laughing that will undoubtedly ensue)!
So, no word from me until tomorrow evening. I hope y'all have a totally FABULOUS weekend!

Kristi's Bags Boutique!

I want to give a shout out to Kristi for her WONDERFUL bags.
I found Kristi on EBay about a year ago when I was searching for a handmade bag to get Ava for her third birthday. I found her stuff, and immediately fell in love with what I saw. I even fell MORE in love with her and her shop when I contacted her, and she worked with me on the specifics of what I wanted.
Her bags are AMAZING, and they are sewn to perfection! She makes purses, diaper bags, little girl bags, and well, practically any kind of bag you would want.
After I received Ava's in the mail, I was SOOOOO impressed, that I have since ordered six more, and have given them as birthday gifts to all of Ava's friends over the past year.

Here's Ava with her bag that she LOVES!

Go check Kristi's stuff out, and let her know I sent ya! I promise you won't be disappointed!

Cousin Love

Addie had heard through the grapevine that the last time Hope spent the night here, I had made a HUGE bubble bath for her, so OF COURSE I had to do the same for Ava and Addie this morning!
Nah.....I don't think they had ANY fun.........
LUV the necklace that she sported the ENTIRE day!
Addie was "reading" Ava a book! (that was right after she told me that she could BABYSIT Ava for me if I wanted her to!!........I guess her seven month head start over Ava in life really makes her "in charge"....which she does very good I might add.....heeheehee)
Addie wanted to paint when we got home from the movies last night, I guess she didn't care that it was dark outside, midnight, and Ava was in bed.........needless to say, we painted TODAY. In the daylight. WITH Ava.

So I'm sure you can tell by now that my niece is a complete NUT! She comes up with the craziest funniest things, and she's not even trying to make you laugh. It would take me three LONG blog posts to be able to retell everything she has said to me or I've heard her saying to Ava over the past 24 hours. And her AND Ava together are just HYSTERICAL!
Thanks for spending the night with us Ads, and of course ALL the laughs!