news flash...news flash...news flash....

I'm not going to name names or anything.......

but somebody in this house went pee-pee on the potty all day long yesterday. on her own. without having to be asked.

i would give her a "shout out" but i don't want to jinx anything.

(yippee!)

plates,5ks, clearing out, and a question

This weekend was a lot of fun. It started out Saturday morning with the 5k. My friend Stacey and I made quite an impression. Both loaded down with double strollers, Tess on one side and 4 of her babies in the other, and Stacy had her two boys AND decided to bring Waylon, their yellow lab.

We did a little running and then realized we had been going down hill for quite some time. We stopped dead in our tracks and turned around.

Yowzer!

We had a long, steep hill to walk all the way back up the second half of the run. Uh-oh.

Needless to say, we slowed our pace. I am so glad we did. It was quite the work out pushing those mack daddy strollers up that hill.

I really enjoyed it and so did Tess, I think I might start taking her with me to more 5 and 10ks. It might be our Mommy/daughter "thing."

Hubby and Bram had a "guys night" on Saturday while Tess and I headed into Austin for a birthday party. On the way home, I was certain she would fall asleep. Nope. She sang "Happy Birthday" to every. single. person she could think of . The ENTIRE way home.

Good times.

Yesterday morning, the little lady woke up a 6 am, AGAIN, so as I was sitting on the playroom floor drinking my coffee, I looked around the playroom. Really? Who needs this much STUFF! I got some trash bags and went to town.

6 trash bags later, the playroom is much more organized. You read that correct.

6 trash bags later. SIX trash bags later. Seis trash bags later.

That is ridiculous. And I have to say, if ANYONE gives either kid a stuffed animal ever again.

I will punch that person in the face. No joke.

Today I will be taking it all to the battered women's shelter in town. Where these toys are needed, not wanted.

Moving on, please click the below picture to make larger. Notice the antique shoe forms I have going up the wall. Go ahead click the pic, don't be scared, and try to look past that weird little kid.


I have them hanging up just on nails. Well, the two bottom ones have started falling off. And causing damage to the wall. But I LOVE them so. Does anyone have any other ideas on how to get those suckers to stay up there?

I have had the large shoe form that is on the stand for quite sometime. A few weeks ago, I was at a local flea market and saw the others, got a great deal and the idea to put those up the wall popped in my head. I think they look really cool and want them to stay but this problem must be resolved, pronto, the Hubs is getting not happy about the scratches on the wall.

Yesterday, I bought some very long screws, I am hoping this solves the problemo, but before I do it, if anyone has a better idea do tell. Ok.

Thanks.

Last but definitely not least. I was asked to put up some pics of my powder bath. My plate collection is covering it from ceiling to floor. At Bunco on Wednesday, somebody said they were trying to explain this bathroom to a friend but couldn't. Which is odd, now that I think about it, since it is just plates on a wall, but whatever.

So here it is, as best as I could photograph a tiny powder bath:

The top plate on the right hand side was my very first plate. Brought from Spain from my dear friends Kim and Kelley.

This is one of my favorites, I believe it is a Limoge, but could be wrong. A birthday gift from Hubby's step mom.

The plate above the door was bought in Taos, NM. It has three skiers painted on it, circa 1940's. I bought it the weekend Hubs and I got engaged, 9 weeks after meeting. Oh la, la! How romantic.

Some others, from Japan, Switzerland, China, London, Arkansas (ha!), Ireland, Austria, and then lots and lots that I pick up at flea markets or antique stores that just tickle my fancy. Did I travel to all of these places? I wish! I am lucky that I have friends and family that see something special, think of me, and pick a plate up here and there.

I have said it before and I will say it again. Plates are one of the easiest and cheapest ways to decorate. For real, dawg.

Today is Monday, laundry day in Cocoland. I hope everyone's Monday is more exciting than mine.

Tata for now.

Exciting morning!

Today Miss Tess and I are running a 5k together. It is to raise money for TeamKaren! We will be doing it all to further the research of inflammatory breast cancer, or the "invisible breast cancer."

Our entire little town is involved, so I am expecting it to be a fun and uplifting experience.

I will probably be doing a lot more walking that running since I am 1) pushing a stroller and 2) will be chatting.


This is about raising money for a cure! Not my love handles.

Wish us luck!!!!

I think she had just realized......

What she had gotten herself into:





Have a happy weekend!!!

A tiny bit sleepy

Bunco at Coco's house last night. We actually don't play Bunco anymore, but it sounds good.

EVERYONE brings yummy apps and wine. Lots of wine. Lots if food. Lots of visiting. Lots of laughing. Lots of fun.

Hubby took the kids to his dad's for the party and when they came home....everyone was still here.

After the last guest left and I had cleaned up a bit, it was 2 am.

Miss Tess is not adjusting well to the time change and has been waking up at 6. I was wishing, hoping and praying that since she went to bed late that she would sleep in.

Not so much.

5:45am.

Ouch.

I am very tired. Kids are at mother's day out and I think I might have a nap.

Coco is out.

Two awards and a VERY valuable parenting tip.

Alicia over at the Rand Family awarded me with the above award! I met Alicia through Casey. Every time I go to Dallas to see Casey, I get to see Alicia as well. It has been fun getting to know this beautiful mommy not only through her blog but in person as well. And Alicia and I are always the first ones to order the Mombo Taxi at Mi Cocina. Wink.

So here are the rules to this award.

Use only one word, pass along to six favorite bloggers, and tell 'em you did so.So, here we go:

1. Where is your cell phone? charging

2. Your hair? dirty

(I'm not sure where 3 and 4 went?!?!)

5. Your favorite food? Indian

6. Your dream last night? weird

7. Your favorite drink? water

8. Your dream/goal? happiness

9. What room are you in? kitchen

10. Your hobby? kids

11. Your fear? unhealthy

12. Where do you want to be in six years? here

13. Where were you last night? home

14. Something that you aren't? quiet

15. Muffins? blueberry

16. Wish list item? expansion

17. Where did you grow up? Texas

18. Last thing you did? tinkled

19. What are you wearing? gown

20. Your TV? WordWorld

21. Your pets? Martha

22. Friends? awesome

23. Your life? perfect

24. Your mood? morning

25. Missing someone? definitely

26. Vehicle? Tahoe

27. Something you're not wearing? undergarments

28. Your favorite store? SmartiePantz

29. Your favorite color? orange

30. When was the last time you laughed? yesterday

31. Last time you cried? awhile

32. Your best friend? several

33. One place that I could go over and over? beach

34. One person who emails you regularly? Casey

35. Favorite place to eat? backporch

I also received an award from my new FAVORITE read, Vintage Junky. I stumbled upon her blog and LOVED her style. And thanks to her, I have found more decor blogs that are very much my taste. Thanks Vintage Junky!

So, here are seven things about me you may not know (Casey is cringing just about now.):

1) Hubby and I met and got married all withing 5 months. I wasn't pregnant BUT did get pregnant 6 months after we married. Oops! We totally should of named Bram, Robert Mondavi or Kendall Jackson. Opening weekend of Dove season made us a little nuts. Just sayin'.

2) I don't have a gall bladder. It was taken out 10 years ago. Because of this organ being gone, I have pooped in my britches more than an adult should. Their have been some sad situations for poor Coco and her $220 jeans.

3) I have never had to cut or trim either of my kids toenails. Ever. Don't ask, I have no idea why their toenails don't grow because their fingernails grow like weeds.

4) I would love to own my own Waldorf Learning Center. If you know anything about the Waldorf curriculum this may surprise you about me but I find it a wonderful place for little ones to learn and explore.

5) In the car, I use words that would make a sailor blush. I am the only one on the road that can drive. It's true. I have learned to tone it down A LOT since kids, but have been known to say, "Idiot." And now my kids say, "ARE YOU KIDDING ME!" when they are frustrated with something. Which I am fine with. Much better than, "USE YOUR *#&&$&@) BLINKER YOU $#@_*!"

6) Tess' real name is Tessie Mayes, that is what we call her, Tess is just quicker to blog. Anyhoo, Hubby wanted to call her Tessie Mayes, but wanted Mayes to be her middle name but I wanted both names to be her first name, to make sure it showed up on all legal documents as, Tessie Mayes. Guess who was NOT in the room at the time I was filling out the birth certificate. Yep. Her name is officially Tessie Mayes. No middle name. Is that bad? Whatev. I was hormonal.

7) I have cheated on a test only once in my life. 3rd grade, 7 and 9 multiplication test. To this day I can't do my 7 and 9's. I have to reverse the numbers in my head. Like if somebody says, "what is 7 times 5?" I have to do 5 times 7 in my head. Makes sense. Weird yet a true testimony as to why you should never cheat in school or you won't learn a dip darn thing!!!

I am giving the Kreative Award to Mrs. Merry Mack. I have know her FOREVER! Seriously, read her. She is very smart, quick witting, and blunt. Just the way I like it.

Now for some parenting advice, courtesy of Coco:

If for any reason your child gets gum in and around their armpit, don't ignore it. It will stick your child's arm skin to their armpit skin, this causes irritation once the gum residue is removed.

To remove gum from in and around an armpit area, just use a lot of baby oil. This may take 4 or 5 attempts and lots of picking but will eventually work.

Don't try peanut butter or rubbing alcohol. Scrubbing with soap and water will only irritate your child to where you don't have ample access to armpit area.

Just lots of baby oil and some patience.

You're welcome.

Shameless plug

My brother has a girlfriend, Sara, who will soon (hopefully) become my sister in law. We love her. The two of them together are TOTALLY Jim and Pam from the Office. They even kind of look the same.

Sara is a caterer. A wonderful caterer. At Home Catering, is located in the glorious city of Fort Worth, all of you Metroplex girls take a look at all she has to offer.

I have used her for baby showers, sending a meal to a friend recovering from baby or sickness, etc. She does it all. And does it very well.

One of the reasons her food taste so good, is because she LOVES to cook. When she visits us, she is the one that is in the kitchen whipping up anything from homemade guacamole and chicken quasadillas to salmon with roasted asparagus and couscous. She also makes a mean crawfish fettuccine. It is even good cold. Just sayin'.

This weekend when she and Bryan came for a visit, she brought my kids these GORGEOUS candy apples. They were a hit.

Let's hear it for apples rolled in caramel, chocolate, nuts and coconut! Yeeehhhhawww!!!

And since I am trying to lose a few more pounds before the holidays, as soon as my mom, Sara and Bryan left, I went through her cookbook and decided to make her enchiladas. They are super low fat.

Yep, that is a corn tortilla in grease. You don't fry them to a crisp, you just get them good and salty and greasy before you roll them up in sour cream and cheese.

Beans boiling in beer. Fresh avocados.

Diced onions, a bag of cheese and spicy red enchilada sauce.

Goodness. Pure goodness.

Where it all went down.

I must say, they were delicious! Hubby and I chowed down. Good, greasy, Sunday dinner food. Just the way I like it.

Just so you know, big butts are TOTALLY "in" this holiday season.

SO, head on over to At Home Catering, and tell her Coco sent ya!!!!