I know We're Not Supposed To But...

Talking about politics and religion is a big No No in our family for a lack of a better way to put it. My guess is that it's the same with you. However, my husband likes to talk about all of these things very openly and to anyone who will stick around to hear his ideas. He's not trying to persuade people with his opinions. He just wants to be able to discuss issues intelligently. I don't see anything wrong with that. If anything it could help someone make a more informed decision.

Where we live (small town America) a lot of people equate religion with the republican party so they vote republican for that reason alone. Or they vote for a candidate based on who their family votes for not knowing anything substantial about either party. For instance, (this is a real-life example) recently we were sitting around discussing politics with a few people. During the course of the conversation, someone stepped in and told why they were voting for their candidate all the while citing very specific issues with which they were for yet the party they were voting for was totally against - all because they were uninformed. This is scary.

For the most part I think I've kept myself out of those types of conversations almost entirely unless someone asks me specifically. I listen to others ideas because I like being informed. I'm not going to go into some huge discussion of who I'm voting for and why because we all have access to the facts if we want to seek them out. And, I don't care who you vote for - just go vote in November.

P.S. There is an Obama Bumper sticker on our car.:)

Obama '08.

edited to add: I'm not suggesting that you vote for my candidate. I'm not that influential. I'm merely suggesting that you think for yourself.

Open Your Eyes

Get up, get out, get away from these liars
'Cause they don't get your soul or your fire...*


This is me rambling today because I can... So, this may not make any sense to you at all - it makes perfect sense to me.

I often wonder what people are thinking when they do certain things (mostly such things that either hurt others or end up hurting themselves in the end). I guess because I am at a point in my life where I finally accept who I am. I'm past all the angst, confusion, and caring-what-people-think stage. At least I think so. We all have set-backs when unexpected things happen.

But I can say that I don't live my life for others or for what others may think of me. I used to. We have all succumbed to social forces at one time or another. Most people still do now. I can't say that I know the meaning of life nor do I think I know all the answers. Heck, I'm far from that but I do know that I'm happy.

I wish people would open their eyes and see what is really there. I know they'd be happier or at least know what would lead them to be happier if they stopped conforming, worrying, and living for the wrong thing- whatever their wrong thing is...

I just hate seeing people that I care about continually unhappy or in a messed up situation because they think that have to do what they are supposed to do. Seriously, I think we can decide for ourselves. If more people decided for themselves rather than letting others and media decide for them we'd be better off.

Why can't people see what is right in front of them?

*Link love to whoever knows where my blog title and lyrics at the top came from.

Learning Photography...

I love photography. I want to get good at it so I can take really good wall- worthy photos of my two precious boys. Besides, I don't want to rely on the standard boring Kmart/Picture People/mall photo studios to remember my kids by. Although these photos are cute - because kids are cute - the quality is still really lacking (for me anyway).

So, I've been reading up on digital photography, practicing some of the skills that The Pioneer Woman has on her site, and relying on Hot Daddy for technical help. However, I use Photoshop and he uses Paintshop. Total opposites. Go figure! Anyway...

So, here are a few photos that I'm really liking right now.





Now, I'm contemplating on whether or not I should spend upwards of $300 on some new lenses for my Nikon DSLR before we leave on our vacation in less than 2 weeks. I really want to take some great photos while we are there. I guess the lens can be my early birthday present. After all, I'll be 32 (on 10/19) so I need something to cheer me into old age. ;)

P.S. Happy Fall and don't forget to follow me on Twitter. There's much more going on over there - like hourly. ;)

Boys & Poop!

Here's something funny our 4 year old said last night so I feel inclined to share...

As I was watching the ending of Fringe (BTW, my review of it is over here) last night, our 4 year old walked in just in time to hear Joshua Jackson singing "life is but a dream..." from Row Row Row Your Boat.

The 4 year old looked at me and said matter-of-factly, "Your butt doesn't dream, it poops!"

Hilarious! I just love my boys so much. All they ever think about are farts and poop! Hot Daddy even had to inform the boys during a homeschooling lesson yesterday that there was much more to life than farts and poop. I had to laugh at that one. :)

*By the way, we are giving away some Weight Watchers products over at A Mom's Review and the deadline is tonight so go enter NOW! We've also shared some great stuff for moms lately. I hope you'll go over and see what we recommend.

Things To Ponder Today

It feels like Monday yet it's already Tuesday. I have a million and one things going on from perceived family crisis to excessive work (most of which I brought on myself through over scheduling) so for today's long overdue post I'm just putting some questions out there...just thinking.


1.) As we get older are we all destined for unhappiness? It just seems like everyone around me is unhappy for some reason or another rather it be due to not keeping up with their friends & neighbors money/material-wise, not happy with who they are with, or not happy for reasons unknown to me.

2.) For those of us that actually think we are happy, are we in denial? Or do those that are unhappy just want us to think that?

3.) Those of you that truly feel happy and content with your present life and accept who you are, would you describe yourself as very religious or not religious at all? And, how open-minded are you?

Back to regularly scheduled mommy blogging shortly - complete with cute pictures but for now I'd really like to hear your honest answers to these questions.

*I couldn't resist sharing at least one new photo of my cute little guy! Isn't he adorable?

Our Annual Beach Trip

We leave for our annual beach trip in a few weeks. We are really hoping that hurricanes do not delay or disrupt our trip. (The photo to your right is from last year).

At the moment I'm desperately trying to prepare myself -at least mentally making lists of what to pack, what we need, what needs to be done before we leave, etc., in my head. However, I'm up to my eyeballs in work so I'm not really getting anything done right now in the vacation planning department of my brain.

This year, unlike every other year, we are staying for nearly a month! (Cue the singing of angelic music. Did you hear that? Yes, we are staying that long! I'm so excited!) So, my work and my son's schooling has to be packed up and taken along too which is not really as big of deal as I make it out to be because, hey, we are going to be HOMESCHOOLING AT THE BEACH! ;)

We're very excited about the prospect of spending nearly a month relaxing on a beautiful and peaceful beach with our family. Morning & evening walks on the beach, watching the sunrise while the waves caress our feet, collecting sea shells, crabs, and sea creatures with the boys every day, as well as eating delicious food that I likely will not have to cook for nearly a month is going to be delightful. I want to experience every day and every moment with my boys & my family to the fullest this time around - as it may be the only time we get to stay this long with everyone together.

We'll be back just in time for Halloween...

Posts from our previous annual beach trips that I love going back to read every year.

One Last Round of Summer
October Vacation
Being Absent

Is Anyone Still Here?

Sporadic blogging = ME + very busy building an online empire. Ha!

Ok, moving along... ;)

After my last post, finding balance, I really started thinking about how I wanted my son to experience schooling and ultimately it all went back to why we were homeschooling in the first place. Basically, I want my son to have fun learning. I want him to look forward to schooling so I let go of my expectations and thoughts on what school should be like (I'm still unschooling myself), and the stress has "magically" dissipated. I'm happy to report that things are going much more smoothly as we head into our 4th week of the homeschooling year.

FYI: I'm almost always micro-blogging here

P.S. If this site looks like crap in your browser, stop using Internet Explorer. Get Mozilla Firefox please! While you are here please take a look at our newly redesigned site, Contest For Moms (excluding this blog for now).