Happy New Years!

When did I get old enough where I could actually remember my past few New Year's Eve's? Sometimes I still feel that the sorority girl is lingering in me...her black booty pants and red tank top ready for a night out on the town. Toasting at midnight and just getting the party started as the clock hits 12:01a.m. Declaring the New Year to be the time to get the party started and kicking off the ridiculously high heels and dancing the night away. And then squishing under my blanket to avoid the sunlight until at least two the next afternoon when I would be ordering the typical chinese delivery with extra fried dumplings.

No my friends, I was not always this good little girl you see before you. My now-husband may have fallen in love with me on our first New Year's Eve together. I would have. And I will shamefully admit that one New Year's I was kind enough to not stand up the sweet boy that liked me so much (and spent so much money on me that night), but I did in fact leave him on my couch watching movies while I continued my night of fun with my own crush. Hey, he got the first kiss, right? Does it really matter if it was a courtesy kiss? Ouch. Hurts to even admit. Poor guy.

Anyway, that is all the past, right? And tonight is about the future. The upcoming year will bring me six years of marriage, a 3 year old, and a 4 year old. It will put me in my final year of a ridiculous car loan that should have never been signed. Hopefully it will bring my business success, my family joy and happiness, and maybe even a little wealth.

The rules for this family are simple tonight. Good food, good fun, and great company. We will be feasting on yummy appetizers (because really, those are a meal in and of themselves), we will be playing I-Spy Bingo and other random board games (and maybe, just maybe game of dominoes and gin for the parents), and no t.v., computers, or other electronic devices.

So, from my household to yours, I wish you a very very Happy New Year. Please please please be safe, have fun and celebrate the life you have lived and the life you plan to, and come back to visit in 2011! And you single ladies....have a Depth Charge shot for me (if they are still even called that, that is)

Thursday Thunks-

1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?
If you would have asked me this in 1996, or even 2000, this answer would have been much more interesting....as it is, the only thing I did was start writing my own newsletter (Macaroni Kid)

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't even remember them. And if you read this weekend you will find out what I am doing about the resolutions for next year.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No

5. What countries did you visit?
Wow, you are quite the bummer, aren't ya....NONE!

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Money

7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Unfortunately, 2010 was the LEAST memorable year per exact dates.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Not slapping the crap out of my dr. when they played pop goes the weasel with my belly-button hernia

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not trying as hard as I could have

10. What was the best thing you bought?
The absolute best Christmas presents in the world....cuz I am cool like that

11. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Pick a celebrity....seems they deserve quite the celebrations for their ridiculous behavior

12. Whose behavior made you appalled and disgusted?
See previous question

13. What song will always remind you of 2010?
The one about loving like something or other because of the funny kid in the you tube video

14. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Nookie

15. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Eating

16. Did you fall in love in 2010?
Over and over with my kids

17. Who did you miss?
My jerk of a biological father that doesn't deserve missing

18. Who was the best new person you met?
Sarah. But, she is still a new friend, so ask me if I still like her in 2011 (j/k Sarah!)

PYHO: Are you who you wanted to be?

I had been literally pouring my heart out over a different post, but just couldn't see myself posting it quite yet. Just too early I suppose, but I know when something is flowing, I know when it is right, and I know when I need to let it stew in my mind a bit more. And that one needs to stew. But the particular topic I was writing about did make me think on a more general level, especially in the coming of the New Year. I love the quote that "The unexamined life isn't worth living", but it seems that life is often flying by too quickly for me to really examine it. I just seem to go by in my day by day routines, writing my blog and Macaroni Kid, taking care of the family, and doing the chores. And this led me to wonder......am I the wife and mother I wanted to be?

We all had our dreams and our visions of how our life was going to go. Mine often included the "Leave it to Beaver" type household where I had a clean house and dinner on the table each night, but still had time to grab some girlfriend chatter. My husband would not want, my hair would not be out of place, I would not be overweight. My kids would be loved and well-adjusted. And any and issue that may arise would be resolved within thirty minutes filled with canned laughter.

But here is the thing about T.V. There is a lot of "assumption". How often do you see the family sitting down to play a good old board game, do you ever see the mom racing around three weeks before Christmas trying to get it all done, were there ever parent/teacher meetings or doctors appointments, and who does the grocery shopping anyway? We just assume these things, just as we often assume that the mother down the street who looks perfect and seems to have it all together is happy.

I know someone who has had the unfortunate experience of believing that she found her true love three times. Three times she loved and married, and three times she lost. And I had the ability to see a small bit of the inside world. From the outside you never would have known of an issue. Hands were held, houses were clean, smiles were shining. I remember once talking to this person, who exclaimed "it has been HOW long?" when we were discussing a particularly dry spell after the birth of my children. I used to think how lucky she was that it wasn't an issue for her, that the passion in her marriage still ran hot hot hot. But apparently the hotness meter was not a great indicator of the health of her marriages.

But I know I am not who I want to be. I don't get down and play enough. I say "hold on a sec" way too often. My tongue is often too quick to yell, but yet I am too willing to give in as well, giving my kids quite the inconsistency. I WANT to be the wife that wants her husband to be settled before I eat my food hot, but really, I am the first person to give the "seriously, get it yourself" look. I want to be the hot sexy wife.....I just can't seem to find the motivation to lose the weight. I want to baby my husband like I used to when he was sick, but I can't seem to get over being annoyed.

There are times I can remember being "the perfect". I was the perfect wife when we were newly married, if I forget how short-tempered and jealous I could be. But I had a clean house, I worked hard, I was a hottie potattie, and my husband.....well my husband didn't want.  And I was the perfect mom when my son was first born. Again the house was clean, I was happy, my son was happy and my husband was happy. Granted I had a child that couldn't move, make a mess or talk back and a ton of time on my hands......but dang it I didn't let a person near my child that wasn't appropriately sanitized.

We all have the "perfect" friends. You know, the ones that don't seem to have a problem in the world? The one's whose facebook status' make us gag a bit in our mouths and feel like horrible people because we end up despising them and their dang luck a bit? Part of me applauds these people for seeing their cups as half (or completely) full at all times, for focusing on the positive and not airing their dirty laundry, but the other part of me wonders what is really happening behind closed doors-not that it is my business anyway. Why are they so determined to prove how disgustingly happy they are? Maybe this is why we like reality shows and sitcoms like "Desperate Housewives" so much, makes us feel so much less alone.


So I guess there is no "perfect". There is only "in progress". I'm not doing the best I can, though. I know I can be trying harder, I know I can be more organized, and I know my to-do list doesn't need to have items that I wrote in eight months ago. So I guess that is as good a place to start as any. Who needs a boring old perfect life anyway?

Pint-Pain med style

I'm baaaaaaccccckkkkkk~~

So I am back. I think. I need to take a moment to recoup and get back in the swing of things. It has been fun I tell ya!

So, I ended up having my surgery on the 23. I am very proud of my two sweet little kiddo's and my very supportive husband for how nice they have been to me. My husband even set up the couch, put on some Christmas lights, and left me alone for the whole day after the surgery. Not that I would have noticed. I was dead to the world. I couldn't wake up for more than one minute for anything.

Many of you have emailed me, and I really appreciate it. I ended up having only one hernia, three cysts, and a polyp. And for Christmas I got a bunch of fun pictures of my insides. I can now tell you that your kidneys do in fact look EXACTLY like Kidney Beans. I will never look at my enchilada casserole the same again.

Forgive me this week.....I will be taking all my pain pills as scheduled (believe me, only one hit to the stomach area from a random toddler foot and I will never take one late again), so if I seem a bit loopy, a bit dramatic, or just out-there, that is why. Maybe I will get some good material....ya think?

Dear Santa,

Last year I participated in Mama Kat's workshop on writing a letter to Santa. I started to do one again, but wanted to read my old one first. This letter had absolutely everything I wanted to say, and it filled me with love and spirit again. So I decided not to change it until next year!

Dear Santa,
It has been a long time since I could allow myself to believe in your magic. Somewhere between my cabbage patch doll and that first awful Christmas Eve where my biological father pretended I didn't exist, I lost the Christmas sparkle in my eye. I lost the giggle in my belly when the lights were turned low and the cookies warmed my hands as the lights from the tree reflected in my wide eyes. And then, just as quickly as you disappeared from my life, I realized you were there for me again. I saw the sparkle again, only it was those deep baby browns of my son and those bright and shiny blues of my daughter. I felt the giggle in my belly as I turned down the lights and my children stared at the tree together, my sweet and innocent baby girl trying to blow out those twinkling lights. I felt the magic in my step as I lovingly went down my own list of gifts for my treasured family and friends. And I felt that overwhelming love as I saw the excitement overflowing from my son as he screamed your name. So it is finally time to once again lay out those stockings and cookies and milk lovingly and with care. It is once again time to lay my head on my pillow and force my eyes closed as I wait in breathless anticipation for your magical day. Only this year, Santa, my list to you is much shorter.

I have nothing to ask for this year, Santa, for you have spoiled me already. You have given my womb the blessing of not only one but TWO healthy children. You have given me the precious gift of one of those children going into not one but TWO surgeries, and walking through the exit doors that other children will never see. You have given me a husband who loves me and a man who knows what it means to be a daddy. You have given me a roof over my head, a job to get us by, material goods that many would never even dare to dream of much less put on their lists. You have given me years with my grandparents and parents, a Church that feels like home, two eyes that see, two ears that hear, two legs that carry, and two arms that hold. So this year, Santa...please give me the present of a glimmer of hope for a child with cancer. Please stuff my stocking with shelter for a wife abused. Please decorate my tree with conceptions of healthy children for loving parents with empty arms. And if you could.....if it wouldn't be too much trouble.....could you please also leave under my tree a few thousand military men and women united with their families. (okay, and if I may add, safety during my surgery so that I can be home quickly to enjoy Christmas Eve and Christmas with those beautiful babies!)

Merry Christmas, Santa!
Vicki

Momma's days of Christmas!

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
a pile of stinky laundry.......

On the second day of Christmas my body gave to me,
2 hernia's and a pile full of stinky laundry!

On the third day of Christmas my doctor gave to me,
3 invasive tests, 2 hernia's and a pile full of stinky laundry!

On the fourth day of Christmas my mechanic gave to me,
4 used tires, 3 invasive tests, 2 hernia's and a pile full of stinky laundry!

On the fifth day of Christmas my daughter gave to me,
5 dirty diapers...., 4 used tires, 3 invasive tests, 2 hernia's and a pile full of stinky laundry!

On the sixth day of Christmas the stores gave to me,
6 credit card bills, 5 dirty diapers, 4 used tires, 3 invasive tests, 2 hernia's and a pile full of stinky laundry!

On the seventh day of Christmas my son gave to me,
7 signs of a cold, 6 credit cards, 5 dirty diapers, 4 used tires, 3 invasive tests, 2 hernia's and a pile full of stinky laundry!

On the eighth day of Christmas my kitties gave to me,
8 piles of furballs, 7 signs of a cold, 6 credit card bills, 5 dirty diapers, 4 used tires, 3 invasive tests, 2 hernia's and a pile full of stinky laundry!!

On the ninth day of Christmas my memory gave to me,
9 forgotten presents, 8 piles of furballs, 7 signs of a cold, 6 credit card bills, 5 dirty diapers, 4 used tires, 3 invasive tests, 2 hernia's and a pile full of stinky laundry.

On the tenth day of Christmas my children gave to me,
10 temper tantrums, 9 forgotten presents, 8 piles of furballs, 7 signs of a cold, 6 credit card bills, 5 dirty diapers, 4 used tires, 3 invasive tests, 2 hernia's and a pile full of stinky laundry.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my stylist gave to me,
11 months sans haircut, 10 temper tantrums, 9 forgotten presents, 8 piles of furballs, 7 signs of a cold, 6 credit card bills, 5 dirty diapers, 4 used tires, 3 invasive tests, 2 hernia's and a pile full of stinky laundry!

On the twelfth day of Christmas my heart gave to me,
12 blessed Christmas memories, 11 months sans haircut, 10 temper tantrums, 9 forgotten presents, 8 piles of furballs, 7 signs of a cold, 6 credit card bills, 5 dirty diapers, 4 used tires, 3 invasive tests, 2 hernia's and a pile full of stinky laundry!

Piggy Paint review and GIVEAWAY! Tickle those little piggies! CLOSED

I am not a girly girl. I have always wanted to be, I just don't know how to do it. My husband and I were discussing the other day how girls that take care of themselves in the t.v. shows put on lotion etc before going to bed. Yeah. I just go to bed with my bitten nails, dry skin and hair, and make-up on my face (yes, I know but that is a later post!). My daughter, however, is already showing signs of being a pretty girly girl. She loves to have her nails done. But I don't want to put MY nail polish (not that I have much that isn't dried up) on her. I may not be super-green, but I do want stuff that is NOT harmful on my kids. Plus, my baby girl is NOT patient. I need something that dries quick. And if it does come off as she sticks those cute baby fat fingers in her mouth, won't harm her. Love our Piggy Paint for all these reasons!

Piggy Paint is odorless, hypoallergenic, and durable. It dries super-quick, especially if I put my hair dryer on low/cool and aim it at her teeny tiny fingers. And she loves it, you can tell she feels so pretty. She also makes me do her toes, too. I love it.

Recently Piggy Paint sent me some fun new colors that are geared towards teens! Bright green, blue, pink, yellow, cotton candy, I love it! Perfect perfect perfect stocking stuffer! Check out all the colors here.

Some Piggy Paint fun facts! They use 100% reused peanuts from our local community to ship our products! Reduce, reuse, recycle! Let’s pamper Mother Earth! Also, Piggy Paint has received the Excellence Award from Safbaby.com and now proudly have received their seal of approval as an approved Vendor of Mom approved-child tested products!!


BUY IT!: You can get 10% off your order from now until Jan. 31, 2011! Simpy use the code BELL10L. This is valid for anything on the website including sale items. AND they ship worldwide with international postage rates applying! Best part is that a portion of sales from the Breast Cancer Pail will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure for Research!

WIN IT! Yep! Win a $15 gift code! What a great little treat for yourself after all that holiday shopping! Entering is simple, just follow the directions. But please make sure you do the mandatory entry first and actually complete all entries as they will be verified for the winner!

MANDATORY ENTRY: Be a follower of Frugal Mom via GFC and visit piggy paint and comment on your favorite color!

Extra Optional Entries:

• "Like" Frugal Mom knows Best on Facebook
• Follow Frugal Mom knows Best on Twitter
• "Like" Piggy Paint on Facebook (If you tell them Frugal Mom knows Best sent you, you get 2 additional entries, just comment that you did so!)
• Follow Piggy Paint on Twitter (again, tell them I sent you and you get 2 additional entries!)
• Tweet about this giveaway (1 entry daily!-just leave the link each day!)

Enter to #win a $15GC to @piggypaint! Fun, safe and a great gift for ANY occasion! @frugalvicki http://miniurl.com/74155 ends (12/31)

Giveaway is open to US/Canadian residents only, and ends on 12/31/2010. Winner will be chosen by random.org and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.


All opinions are my true opinions of the product, and no monetary compensation was received. I received the product mentioned to facilitate my review and to thank me for my participation.  

"Can you do that again, please?"

"Turn your head and cough for me, please"

Yeah, so totally never thought that I would her those words directed at me. Are you kidding me? But, my first Dr.'s suspicions were confirmed. I do in fact have a hernia. Actually, I have at least two. Yes my friends you read that right. At least two. Apparently when you have at least two in addition to possible other issues, they don't keep searching the other side as well because they just figure out they will get it while they are in there. Well, and hopefully the cat-scan will catch it as well.

I almost had to laugh at my predicament. I was in a fairly decent mood since the visit did not start with the words "undress from the waist down, please". However, there was a PA, the Surgeon and a third year medical student. So, after she dug her finger in my belly button and almost pushed everything out the other side, she then had me cough. Apparently the site of my belly button popping out was so much fun that she couldn't resist sticking her finger back in that belly button and pushing it on through again so that the medical student could see my belly button playing "Pop Goes the Weasel" as well. I then got to relive my good old college days when the surgeon asked me about my previous laparascopic (?) surgery.....until we determined from my shocked and puzzled look that what she thought was a surgery scar was in fact my old belly button ring scar. OMG!

It isn't that I don't trust this Dr. I actually do. And she was so very nice. And thorough (can't get much more detailed than a cat-scan). But really. Here I am talking about my bowel movements in a room with three people all enjoying the site of my belly button looking like a turkey timer. Good times.

Grinchiness everywhere I look

If you want to know what to get me for Christmas, I am always up for Hickory Farms!!

Hickory Farms. Oh how I love thee. Let me count the ways....

• That fantastic, mouthwatering summer sausage that is gone as quickly as it was opened.
• The vast array of cheeses that are just as scrumptious eaten alone, or with that yummy sausage.
• The oh-so-good strawberry candies that are a perfect ending to the meal/snack (because really, I am not in the least hungry after I eat a whole roll of sausage, and one you start there is no stopping)\
• You know what, I should stop here because this list would take up the WHOLE blog post. 

Most everyone is familiar with Hickory Farms, and if you aren't, you sure need to acquaint yourself fast! A holiday traditions since 1951, they have a huge selection of sausages, cheese, nuts, fruits, and even sweets. Now, don't be selfish, you can share the wonderful goodness (who knows, maybe the recipient will get the hint you love them and want a gift, too!) There are a ton of gift boxes to choose from. The Party Planner Gift Box, for example, is what I received for review. It contains a selection of cheese spreads, a cheese ball (which I have never had before), yummy mustards, and that wonderful summer and turkey sausage.


The best part? For every $40 dollar Party Planner Gift Box sold this holiday season, Hickory Farms is donating five dollars (up to $100, 000) to Share Our Strength, a nonprofit organization working to make sure that no child in America goes hungry.

Hickory Farms has found a way to make a difference in the world. They will actually ship free to APO/FPO addresses! You can give your soldier a fantastic and yummy gift to warm their hearts and bellies. That may be one of the most important gifts you send this season!

So what are you waiting for? Head on over and get someone special (and yourself, let's be real here!) a yummy gift box!


I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Hickory Farms and received a Hickory Farms gift basket to facilitate my review.

Short, Sweet and to the point PINTS

It isn't naughty....isn't nice.....just plain funny

This is the first year that both of my kids are old enough to "get" the spirit of Christmas. I love the excitement in their eyes, the wonder in their hearts, and the words that randomly spew out of their mouths in regards to this beloved holiday.....

After setting up the Christmas tree and being so proud of myself for not rearranging ONE of the ornaments that the kids put on the tree, my son looks at me and says "trees should be outside." I responded with the typical "not this tree, it is a Christmas tree and it is special so it stays IN the house where we can enjoy it and Santa can put presents under it." What did this smart child tell me? "Well, I hope a dog doesn't pee on it." Well, son, thankfully we don't have a dog.......

A few months back I was going through toys and realized one of the Little People from the Nativity Scene had gotten mixed in with the other Little People stuff, so I put it aside and told the kids they couldn't play with that one because I wanted it to stay with the other stuff. Further, time after time I have told them that they couldn't play with the toy in the box, it was for Christmas. So, I finally pulled it out of the closet and put it aside so we could discuss it while we put it up. When I was showering, my husband (who apparently did not hear me say I wanted to wait) started taking it out. My son came running upstairs to tell on daddy, "Mommy mommy! Daddy is playing with God's stuff!!!"

"Mommy, my bell fell out and now my balls don't jingle" Little backwards, son, let's work on that before we get to show and tell, okay?

And of course, sweet baby girl in all her frustration, yells to her brother who is picking on her "bad! No 'anta for you!"

Thursday thunks.....I did some thunking

1. There are a lot of emotions in life. Except for Mr. Spock. What emotionally scares you the most?
Fear itself. I have anxiety issues (that have recently gotten fairly bad), so the fear of what COULD happen scares me the most. All of those "what ifs" and "buts" leave me terrified.

2. Do you have any present goals that are tough enough that you'd like to forget about them?
Yeah...weight loss

3. Your Internet service goes down. What would you miss the most?
Ummmm, I wouldn't have time to miss anything because I would be crying. I work on my internet (not just blogging, I also do Macaroni Kid and my virtual call center as well), I keep in touch with people on my internet, I look for recipes for dinner on the internet, etc etc etc. I would cry. Then I would call Comcast in a not so nice way and demand it back immediately complete with a credit on my account for lost time.

4. Name one thing that you do as a parent that you absolutely know will make your kids happy. If you're not a parent, feel free to substitute "friend" or nomenclature that works for you. (Nomenclature? Can you tell that I stole this question?)
Peanut Butter and Jelly or hamburgers for dinner. And stories before bed. And I carry dum-dums in my purse. And I never run out of chocolate milk. And I have mommy/kid days. But the biggest thing...for the small stuff, I just say whatever and let them do it.

5. If money was no object, and you had a free month or so, what would you love to do?
Disneyworld and Universal Studios, then I would come home to a new house that movers had moved us into. And then we would celebrate the house with a trip to our honeymoon spot.

6. Why did you start your blog? Was it because you were pissed at someone?
HA, that is funny. And to be honest.....yes. Not this blog. I actually started another one about the people that call me (I work in a call center, remember). But then this kind of happened.

7. Kimber and Berleen (Thunks founders & BFFs) are finally going to meet in person. Who are you friends with in the blogosphere that you'd love to meet? Why?
There are so many. And honestly about fifteen came to mind. But I will name three. Blue Violet because I think we would have the best time EVER, Shell because I think we are so much alike, and Casey because I feel a bond with her. Oh, and Gramps because I bet he has some fun stories to tell and he is so so supportive. And Terry because she cracks me up. Oh there are so so many.

8. When you were in high school, if you can remember back that far, what mistake did you make that you'd like to change?
The list of what I would NOT change is shorter

9. Do you believe in forever, as in 'love forever'?
Yes. Doesn't mean that there aren't periods where you have to try at it or brief moments of hatred, but yes I do.

10. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being uninhabitable and 10 being cleanliness that meets the standards of OCD, what is you favorite romantic comedy movie?
How to lose a guy in 10 days. Love it. Though I don't get the whole scale thing.