I'm giving you a set of business cards!

Have you heard of UPrinting.com?

I have. And since I had seen their cards before I took it upon myself to see if I could possibly work with them on a review and/or giveaway for my readers.

Lately they're working hard to promote their Mom Business Cards. As many a mom knows, these kinds of cards are kind of trendy (and definitely fun!) when it comes to making new mommy friends, coordinating playdates, and more importantly, when it comes to blogging.

I was excited for an opportunity to receive cards from UPrinting as I have recently purchased my Good Girl Gone Redneck domain, and I am attending two blog conferences this summer. So cards are essential. If you've got a conference in your future, you need a batch of cards. Without a doubt. And if they're free, even better for you - right? So check out the details below to find out what you could win, and how to go about entering.

Small blogging disclaimer ... nothing to do with the prizes in question, but this is my first time using Rafflecopter for a giveaway, so please let me know if you have any problems or questions. And forgive me in advance if anything doesn't work. Rafflecopter newbie in 'da house!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck, everyone! Winner will be picked in one week. I hope it's you!

Disclaimer: You should assume that the owner of this blog will receive free print products in exchange for this post. Any and all reviews posted are solely based on my own experience and may be atypical. Please practice due diligence in any related purchase making decisions. 

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Where I'm at

I'm tired.

Yesterday kind of sucked. More on that later, though.

It's been a few weeks since I have posted my weight or my motivation, or my fitness inspiration.

We had a few crazy weeks, I suppose. I actually skipped weighing myself for almost three weeks - which is scary that I went that long, and yet I am relieved to confess I have only put on .4 lbs. Woo hoo, right?

Yes, I'm okay with a gain. Because this is what those three weeks have looked like...

Passover. 'Nuff said. Honest. I think I ate more things made with eggs than I have in the entire year of 2012. Maybe include 2011 in that, as well. Whoops.

The great mold debacle of 2012. Missed this story? Check it out here.

My anniversary surprise! More on that later, but if you have had the chance to check out my Instagram shots from a weekend or so ago, you'll know I was in NYC for a few days. That update/post will come eventually. I'm slow. Behind schedule. Yadda yadda yadda.

So seeing that my scale showed 4/10 of a pound in the upward manner, I'm not as devastated as I could be. I'm okay with it. I'm glad I didn't put back about 5 lbs, with the eating and drinking I did in the city. Yeah, I went overboard. But I took it on as a true vacation. I think the amount of walking we did throughout the city (the city = Manhattan, for anyone unsure) helped balance things out. Helped me maintain the way I did. Pretty much any and everything I ate and/or drank was burned off shortly after. Honest. I miss that about the city, but again, that's a whole 'nother post!

Now today I get to explain (briefly, I can't dwell right this second) how this week back was okay, but then yesterday I had a "get thee to the ER incident" and I'm okay, but needless to say, I didn't get my butt moving last night. And it's possible I won't today. But I'll be damned if I'm lax about it tomorrow!

So here are a few pinterest motivational images that come from my Motivate Me! board. I hope they'll kickstart my week and get me to move PAST WEEK FIVE of couch to 5K. I guess we'll see...

You said it, Pinterest.

I GOT THIS.

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The importance of time together

It's so easy to avoid spending time with the people that mean the most to you. It's so natural to fall out of the moment and into other things.

And as much as I love me some technology, it's technology that makes that easier to do than it has ever been before. I mean, honestly.

Consider this ...

You go out for dinner and your child is antsy. You try to talk her down. Get her to focus. Look for a way to keep her still. You really don't want to walk out. You have no food in the house and no patience.

You or your other half pull out your cell phone. Angry Birds it is!

Calmness perseveres.

As a stay-at-home mom I try to get a few minutes to myself during the day. Usually to finish a blog post. Maybe to catch up on my friends online, via the mommies group I participate in, or by reading their blogs. Hopefully catching someone on Twitter. Or, yes, my newly created facebook account.

I look to escape on Pinterest. Or pick up a book and try to hide. I still read the page-turning kind, so I'm picking up my copy and my cup of coffee or tea and sitting at the table while she jumps around to the Fresh Beat Band or watches the same movie for the hundredth (at her choosing!) time.

But it's not just the gadgets and the electronic focus. Not at all. See this scenario:

My husband comes home, we sit down and eat as a family. By the time he gets home my child has already started her meal. Sometimes it's late and that's the best option. We struggle with speaking to one another over her attempts at getting our attention. She asks to be excused. Polite. Mission minded. We say yes. "Go wash your hands."A quick glimpse at a few quiet words while the water runs in the background.

The water shuts off. "With soap," I find myself saying, in the direction of the silence. The water is back on. And then off again.

We try to talk to one another over her focus of playing with the dogs, dancing around, whatever is on her mind. It's easy to sigh, smile at one another and find ourselves wrapped up in the next steps of the day.

Getting her to bed has never been an easy task. We struggle with her staying in her bed, or her room. We've worked on new ways - and I think I've found one! But still ... she needs one of us (usually me) to be with her for a bit. It's so hard to shut her brain down for the day. Once we leave her the TV calls to us. The iPad. The phone. Facebook. Twitter. Who is out there?

We sit together on the couch. Our DVR is our friend. We don't even watch that many shows together any more, but we find time for the few we do. It's worth it, to share a laugh or two. Or ten. To catch up on the news (if you call Jon Stewart the news. I do. Often. Who has time for much else, I must ask!) or whatever we feel like focusing on. Laughing together at the end of the day is essential.

He's tired. He has work tomorrow. I have my daughter's brain. Or I should say she has mine. I can't shut down. I pop online. Turn a few pages in that book. Play a word game as a way to decompress.

These are not the things I will remember as I grow older.

Not the things my child will look back on moving forward.

She'll remember that I made changes to make our together better.

She'll consider the moments I share with you below that capture the happiness of our day and time together.

Obviously I'm on the other side of the camera here, so I'm not captured in the moment, but I'm capturing the moment for my memory's sake. I need to honestly do a little less of that, as well. I need to put down the phone and/or the camera and stop snapping away the moments. I need to be IN the moment, instead of outside of it. That would be a huge step towards making our time together better.

As for my little one, I know she'll always think back and consider the fun moments. She's got a memory like an elephant. Or like me, if I'm being honest. So without pictures I know that she'll remember the times her mommy and daddy held her hand and lifted her up across a curb or a puddle. She'll think of the time she planted flowers with her daddy INside, and remember the importance of watering them every day now that they're outside. It's my hope that she'll always think back and see that time together can be so much more than turning on the television and skimming through the DVR.

And so will I.

So let's try to make the together moments the fun ones. Let's try to do less of tossing the phone, the remote or the tablet at the children and more of the let's make a mess mentality. Having fun is what matters most. Even more importantly if we spend that time together to create that fun on our own. Now - where are the chalk and bubbles? Yes, it's raining, who cares!?!

If we do that we'll all remember these moments. And probably (okay, surely!) be happier because of them!

* I have written this post as an entry to Brica's contest for a full sponsorship to the Type-A Parent Conference. Brica's motto is "Making Together Better," and they requested a post in conjunction with that motto meaning as entry submission for this contest. 

Brica can be found online at Brica.com, on Twitter at @Brica and on Facebook at /BricaInc.

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SASS yourself slim ~ Book review

* I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review. All opinions are completely my own. There is an affiliate link in this post - you'll support my reading habit if you buy your copy there! *

I'll admit that when I first started this book I had reservations. Concerns.

I'm not one to opt for diet books, so that this one is essentially a non-diet book I figured it couldn't hurt to consider it.

I'm not doing the five day/five food fast forward that Cynthia Sass recommends. I know it would be practically impossible for me to consist off of five foods for five whole days. I have a five year old (go figure) so I don't think attempting it will work for me. And yes, I did read the success stories by many of the readers who have tried and done amazing jobs on the initial part of the program. I am not judging - just know where I am at currently!

I do want to point out the five foods, though, as they're obviously health inspired and worth reviewing.

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A list of books! How could I not?

Stasha's Monday Listicles asks for a list of books this week.

So you know me. I would never pass up a chance to talk books. Ever.

Even if I'm a day behind schedule.



So I figured I'd try to shoot for the Top 10 Books I've talked about here on my blog. My top fave reads from those I reviewed. This way you can follow my links back to my reviews, mentions or discussions to find out more - if you're so inclined. They're not really in order, per se, as I worked my way backwards through my blog posts to find them - but each have their own reason for being listed.

Little Black Dress, Susan McBride



 * Such a light-hearted and fun read. With a bit of mystical madness throughout. If you're okay with chick-lit you'd definitely enjoy picking this up this summer.

Island Girl, Lynda Simmons



* A story about life, love and family. Alzheimer's Disease touches this family in a way that you might not expect. As serious as the topic is the book itself was a wonderful read.

The Ninth Wife, Amy Stolls



* This book was huge and I still loved it. What a great story, great characters and just overall greatness. It'd be a perfect travel read if you only wanted to bring one story with you to keep you company.

The Bird House, Kelly Simmons



* I really enjoyed this book. As I stated in my review, it was heart-wrenching and heart-warming all at once.

The Twisted Path Home, Fae Bidgoli



* An amazingly woven story that has you questioning and thinking throughout. If you enjoy a good story that has true twists and turns you'll enjoy this read.

Saving Max, Antoinette van Heugten



* Murder, mystery, confusion. Autism. Autism? Yes. Autism. A great read. Well-written and intense.

The Pocket Therapist, Therese J. Borchard



 * I love this book. I have already read it twice and will certainly pick it up again this year. I think it's an annual read for me, and suggest it to you for that same purpose. Maybe more if you should choose to.

The Help, Kathryn Stockett



 * 'Nuff said.

Well, since the 8th book I chose from my list counting backwards on my blog is The Help, I'm going to stop there. I have loads more recommendations and lists throughout my posts here, all you have to do is click the books or reading categories or find yourself the Reading with Redneck tab at the top of the page.

Several of these books were received via publisher or book tour company, whereas a few were just my own reads. I indicate which are which in each post as linked above. Picking these books for this list was all my own choice, based on what I most enjoyed reading from a personal perspective (for which I thank myself for having these reviews on my blog! How else would I be able to perfectly remember hundreds of books!?!).

Oh, wait. I had to go back. I have to have 10 now. I knew I wrote about these two and needed to add them to my list of you should reads:

Still Alice, Lisa Genova



 * Alzheimer's again - but quite possibly the best book I have read that incorporated this in. So touching, so real and so raw. I recently read Genova's Left Neglected, as well, and this, too, was a brain-oriented story. Equally as amazingly written, in my humble opinion.

Sarah's Key



 * Such a phenomenal book. I didn't actually review this book on my blog, but I shared some memories and family-related thoughts and history. This book was emotional, powerful and definitely worth the read. It's harsh, but important, so I strongly recommend it. I have a few other reads that incorporate Judaism and history, but I'll save that for another post someday. For now I'll just say brace yourself, and go read.

Thanks for walking through my books with me and following my links if you felt like it. Let me know if you have any questions, thoughts or comments on any of the books mentioned, and feel free to share some of your own faves, too!

* This post contains affiliate links *

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Muffin Tin Ices!

Or smoothies. I'm not quite sure what these qualify as.

We made smoothies this morning with some fresh strawberries from a U-pick place nearby.

But the kiddo's idea for smoothie ingredients was a definite fail. She just wanted to have strawberries, but no yogurt. I knew it wouldn't work, but I let her make them anyway. We added ice (of course - a must!) and I tossed in some milk. When she didn't finish hers and I tasted the extra and noticed it was quite, uh, meh - shall we say? - I tossed them together, gave them a mix, popped them into a muffin tin and put them in the freezer.

I showed them to her earlier and she was all too eager to test them out.

She's happy, as apparently frozen slushie-drops are delicious.

They seem kind of like an Italian ice (the ones in the yellow cups that we used to buy and scrape the sugary bottom off with a little wooden stick/spoon - do you remember those, too?), but less sweet. I may have to try one myself.

She suggested I "should have put pop sticks in them," which is true, and would have been smart, had I HAD any in the house.

So for now we'll pop 'em out of here like so ...

And eat them in a cup with a spoon!

Enjoy, and Happy Muffin Tin Monday.

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April reading check-in

Checking in after taking a look at my January books post. What to read in 2012?

Here are the ones I had listed and those I've striked through I've actually read: 

* Room, Emma Donoghue
* Little Bee, Chris Cleave
* Sing You Home, Jodi Picoult
* Say You're One of Them, Uwem Akpan
* The Invisible Bridge, Julie Orringer
* Pretty in Plaid and * My Fair Lazy, Jen Lancaster
* Skipping a Beat, Sarah Pekkanen
* Lime Tree Can't Bear Orange, Amanda Smyth
* Winter Garden, Kristin Hannah
* The Forgotten Garden, Kate Morton
* Cinderella Ate My Daughter, Peggy Orenstein
* Father of the Rain, Lily King
* Left Neglected, Lisa Genova
* Dirt is Good for you, Babble.com editors
* The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, Alan Bradley (need to buy or borrow for book club)
* Bossypants, Tina Fey

I'll add that I LOVED Left Neglected, by Lisa Genova. Besides Room (which I had read in late Dec.) I think it was my absolute favorite read of the completed section of this list.

I also, as always, adore Jen Lancaster, and My Fair Lazy was lots of fun.

I still love Tina Fey, but Bossypants was not as fun(ny) as I expected it to be. I thought it was more about her motherhood experience than it was. Again, still love her, just didn't overtly love the book.

And Little Bee, the book everyone was talking about and I left on my shelf for an entire year? It was a good book and very well written, but I wouldn't go so far as to say it was one of the best books ever. It just - well - wasn't. My friend Julie over at My Book Retreat reviewed it perfectly - so well that I went back and dug up what she said and it suited my sentiments. It's the kind of book that is a great read, but if you fall into the feel of the hype you might find yourself disappointed. And that is exactly what happened to me. I don't fall for book-related hype. I just kind of go along until I'm ready. And so when I finally picked up my copy I said to myself, okay, that's IT?

So far this year I've read about 20-something books. If I keep it up I'll pass the totals I had last year and the year before.

Among them you'll also find Ketchup is a Vegetable and The Idle Parent, and (gasp!) 50 Shades of Grey. The first two I loved. Especially the first one. It was hilarious and real and so worth reading. The middle title was a good read, but took me some time to get through. That last one leaves a lot to be desired, honestly. The s-e-x in the book was interesting, sometimes hot and quite intense. We're talking a lot of talk about bondage and so forth. Their relationship had potential, but I found myself just simply not caring. The story could be hot, and people might say it's mommy p-o-r-n. But to me it was kind of meh. It's not something I recommend unless you want to be a part of the current pseudo-pop-culture. For me, I read it because my sister-in-law made me. Yeah. She's 500 miles away and has that kind of influence on me. What can I tell you? I love the girl.

Next on my to-read list? Check out my plans for the coming months!

Confessions of a Scary Mommy, Jill Smokler Read this since I wrote this post!
Let's Pretend this Never Happened, Jenny Lawson
In the Bag, Kate Klise
Silver Girl, Elin Hildebrand
Good Enough to Eat, Stacey Ballis
Pretty in Plaid, Jen Lancaster 
The Forgotten Garden, Kate Morton
The Anti-Romantic Child, Priscilla Gilman

And plenty more, I'm sure. Happy Reading, everyone!

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Motherhood makes me tired.

So my daughter has been a little bit of hell on wheels lately.

Twitter tells me it's normal - because, you know, she's five and all.

And this past weekend (oh, yeah, it's usually on the weekends - like whenever my husband and I have something planned to get us the heck out of dodge for say, a few hours, maybe? And then our plans? They get sucked into nowhere land. But I digress ...) was no exception.

She threw some sort of fit as we headed on some random errands and were going to grab some dinner out. "Strawberries! Strawberries! I want to go pick strawberries!"

This was on Friday night, if I recall correctly. Or maybe it was Saturday. See, that's the thing. She has these fits and cries and loses herself and knock wood or spit a few times we haven't had the physical explosion in a week or two, I guess, but the attitude and actions/reactions suck nearly as badly. And then I have no idea what day it is. Or when it happened. Or anything much at all.

So where was I? Right. Strawberries. My husband drove around and redirected us, so maybe we could at least pick up a bucket of strawberries or something. He was being reasonable. I wasn't having it - and the more she recited a stream of "Please, please, PLEASE!" the more we decided against that plan.

She wasn't listening. At all.

Some days I am so tired that all I can focus on is her meltdowns. Like right now, I'm typing this to say how we actually had some good moments last night. Some great ones. It was fun. It was positive. And instead I have to reprimand her for taking over the remote control and messing with the DVR.

NOT FUN. Not fun at all.

Damnit.

Ah, and now that's what happens. The slightest thing triggers me and I lose track of a positive.

It's not fun. It's mommy feeling on edge. Maybe emotionally charged. Maybe PMSing. Maybe on overload with various things that have set me off, I don't know. I just know that when the behaviors happen, I have to confess. I curse. A LOT. Not at her, but about her actions. Usually TO my husband. Like driving around in the Jeep I found myself saying things like, "Every FUCKING weekend!" and banging my hand against the side door.

Double damnit.

So my title changes and a post that was supposed to cover how fun it was to take my beautiful 5-year-old daughter to The Children's Place and take her into the dressing room to try on clothes and actually have a successful shopping trip (the last time we were there I walked out with her, she was awful. I put every single thing I had picked up for her down and back. No shopping for you, little girl!) and then head over to the bookstore and have her behave well there, too. And this was all after actually eating dinner, the three of us, without any storming off or mess-making issues.

So while all that was well and good and wonderful, I worry myself about when the next dose of attitude will be. When will I have to plop her into time out next? Send her to her room? Raise my voice?

I remind myself she is only five.

I remind myself how very much I love her.

And I remind myself I ALWAYS WILL.

But I also remind myself that I am human. I'm a mom, a strong one, but I'm a human being. And I'm entitled to anxiety, stress-related reactions, and to be TICKED OFF when my child refuses to listen in a way I know she can.

Le sigh.

Thanks, peeps. Thanks for listening. Despite where this post turned.

I poured my heart out, indeed.

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I don't even know what to title this post.

So we noticed a water spot on our kitchen ceiling the other day. It seemed to appear over night. It sure felt like it did. And I looked at it and it was brownish/blackish definitely mold-ish.

Fast forward to yesterday when we had a friend who is a contractor come out, and he did a quick assessment and told us what the next steps would be.

So after he left I called a plumber - they were out in a few hours. Guy cuts a square hole in our ceiling, pulls out the drywall and it's so nasty you wouldn't want to see it on TV. Ew.

Determines the leak is definitely from our upstairs toilet (in our master bath). Great. Takes up our toilet, wax seal is like shredded or something. Well, there you go. It appears that the toilet has been removed before, and there's a definite leak on at least one side. It's really gross, but the leak is fixed so we're done with step one, at least.

He recommends we call a mold guy. Mold guy is in the area and comes out a few hours later. Checks kitchen ceiling. It's definitely mold. He's going to have to cut more out of the ceiling. Probably do a mold treatment. Did I mention yesterday was our 10yr anniversary? Happy anniversary to us!

Checks the ceiling and it's bad, but it's not like the whole ceiling, which is great news, thank goodness. We don't have to move to a hotel, kennel the dogs and hide the cats. ;) We DO have to live with a loud fan and a plastic wrapped section of our kitchen. I'll live. It's all good. No dishwasher? I won't cook. We're all set.

BUT.

He goes upstairs to cut up some of the bathroom floor and it is so freakin' gross there are NO WORDS. NO WORDS, people. It's nasty. It's rotted. It's a Stage 3 or whatever that means. It's likely that the bottom of the toilet has been leaking into the bathroom floor forEVER. Probably since before we bought our house 5 years ago. WTH? How is that even possible?

Note to self, and to everyone you know in this world ... if you ever buy a house (first house, second, again and again), make sure you have a water detector person come and check all your bathrooms, walls, floors, and laundry room, too, while you're at it. Heck, throw in the kitchen to be safe.  There was so much moisture and water in the bathroom floor that it was off the charts. Ew.

So right now we have our upstairs bath cordoned off. It's a biohazard. Seriously. The plumber had to come back out and take our toilet off again and it's in our master bathtub. What? Yes. That is my life right now.

My daughter even drew a picture of it.

Toilet - meet bathtub. Redneck much?

Happy anniversary to us. Oy.

On a positive note, we're getting a new bathroom floor. And have to paint the kitchen ceiling. Maybe I'll go yellow or something. That could be fun. Or cheesy. Or both. We'll see.

Thanks for listening. I wish you a household-stress-free-weekend ahead.

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It's Party Time!

I'm linking up again this year with the Ultimate Blog Party! Wahoo! I'm excited to get connected with so many new peeps. I hope you'll pull up a chair and stay a while, click a few links and get to know me a bit.



I was trying to figure out the best posts to share in this little *intro-like* post for new friends, but I came up with too many.

So I figured I'd give you a few random things about me and see if that keeps you. Then you can click around to find out more if you want.

* I'm a mom to a 5-year-old girl who starts Kindergarten in August. Ack!

* I experienced pretty intense anxiety during my pregnancy, which carried over to PPA. I am a huge advocate for postpartum mood related education and support. It's important to me that moms everywhere know they are not alone. My own anxiety issues were minimal compared to many, but they impacted me enough to know that it's critical to have a support system in place and remember you CAN talk to others because they will understand. Opening up about this on the web has been an amazing experience and an eye-opener which has introduced me to some incredible and powerful women, who happen to be amazing moms, as well.

* I am a native New Yorker (as in the city, not just the state) who doesn't drive and moved to NC in 2006 (approaching the 6 year mark) and I STILL don't drive. YET.

* I love reading, writing and lots of somewhat junky television. I also love not so junky television. I'm addicted to my DVR.

* I'm also addicted to iced chai lattes. Preferably from Starbucks. I love my sweet tea, but have been cutting back on it drastically as I'm trying to actually lose weight this year. My initial goal was to lose 12 lbs over 12 months, and I'm happy to say that I've already achieved that. Since January. Hallelujah.

* My Keurig now has me addicted to flavored coffees. And creamers. This does not help my weight loss efforts in any way at all. But I have been known to fill a cup of iced coffee and find it the next day, still unfinished. THAT I like. Reducing calories that way is a good thing.

* Also, I've just started running. Well, sort of just. I started Couch To 5K in January and am stuck in Week 5 (I did do the first week like 3-4x, though). I'm working my way through it and even if I don't advance enough, I still make it my business to work out at least 3-4x a week. YES, A WEEK. That's incredible for someone like me - I can promise you that.

* I write. Not just blog, but I like to write fiction, too. I have a few stories going on here you might enjoy. Or not. No pressure.

* I miss my family, a good slice of pizza and hot, fresh bagels on the weekends. I also miss my very best friend and my college peeps so much. But I'm surviving. And maintaining contact. And hanging on. Or in. Or whatever you call it.

* Today is my tenth wedding anniversary. I love my husband so much and feel that I don't seem to tell him that enough. Maybe when our daughter is 20 we'll be able to find time to spend together again. Le sigh. Or maybe we'll find a babysitter before then.

So, if you like what you've read and want to stick around, please do. I feel I've said enough that I won't bombard you with links right now. Just click around through my various topics if you'd like and lemme know what you think. Hope to chat soon. Cheers!

p.s. Yes, that is a How I Met Your Mother calendar hanging up between some collages of my little one at age one. And my beverage is a Moscato from FlipFlop Wines. That I blessed so I could drink it for Passover Seder. L'Chaim!

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It's totally okay ... right?

I'm linking up with It's OK Thursdays today.

I was trying to come up with an actual post that suited my mindset and I just hadn't had a brainstorm yet and then I saw this meme and said, aha! That's it. ;)

Sooo ... here I go.

IT'S OKAY:

... that I often sometimes let my daughter watch TV all day long while I entertain myself on the interwebs.

... that I enjoy reading how other parents let things slide, too, because it makes me feel that much better about where I'm at. (Right?)

... that my daughter asking if she can watch the movie with Andy and the dog made me happy and flashed me back to my own memories of singing "The Sun'll Come Out, Tomorrow" at random while running down the street with my very first best friend.

... that the idea of joining Facebook makes me almost physically ill and yet I know I'm going to just suck it up and do it already to create a page for my blog. Soon.

... that I'm looking at it as a silver lining that it's possible that I can reconnect with that friend once I DO get on Facebook. (I mean, I've gotta find something - right?)

... to stuff tissues in the waistbands of my sweatpants so I have them on-hand every second of the day because my allergies suck so badly that I need them every second of every day. Sigh.

... that my daughter sees Ellen on a commercial or two and says, "That's your girl!" OOPS.

AND

... that when watching an episode of Ellen yesterday she (my daughter, not Ellen) got all excited and shouted CeeLo when she saw he was going to be a guest. Watch The Voice much, mom?

... to wish that all of the people I love in Blognia lived in the same community that I do so we could sit, chat, have coffee or tea or milkshakes (fine, smoothies) or wine together while our children played in the backyard (minus the dog poop), front yard or down the street in the cul-de-sac.

... to really REALLY mean that last one. That's okay, right?

Happy Thursday, everyone. Hope you're all well!

Also? It's okay that after all these years I pretty much remember every single word to not just the songs but the actual movie itself, right? "Mi, double S-I, double S-I, double P-I." Ah, Annie. Love her.

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When all that's left of me is love ~ Book review

Linda Campanella lost her mother to cancer.

There's no other way to start this review than to rip that Band-Aid right off.

Her loss is expected, and therefore not surprising, as if you were reading a novel and became attached to a character - finding her to be the focus of the story - and then ultimately losing her so quickly that the pain is almost searing through you.

But her loss is real. Which is a whole different ball game when it comes to loss. And cancer. Effing cancer. (I mean no disrespect to the author or TLC book tours when I use the light-verbiage that represents something way less light than you see there.)

Cancer sucks. It's heart-breaking. It tears apart families as it steals away people you love.

I'm no stranger to cancer.

Perhaps that is why I agreed to do this review. I figured taking someone else's approach to a loss so first-hand would give me a different perspective. As Campanella's view expressed here was not that she was sharing her mother's road to dying - but her final year of living. Living beyond what was expected, and living instead of dying.

I think there is a part of me that should have known better. It is very difficult to review someone's personal story when written by themselves, in honor of their mother's memory. Removing my heart from the personal aspect of this book is hard - if not almost impossible - to do. Honestly, the only critique I can share is that there was slight overuse of the emails/letters written by the author. These seemingly took away from the ones she shared that were written by her mother. And the frequency in which we reviewed them took a bit away from the ones at the end of the book - which to me held the most importance. The most perspective.

Linda Campanella shared her innermost self here on these pages, and the most intimate knowledge of her family members, including her mother at her most vulnerable time. I feel she was respectful to her mother's memory, and her family's loss, and has likely captured the spirit of her mom all these years later.

I find it hard to recommend this book to someone who is experiencing a similar road to loss -- only because I think that letting go of someone you love, expectedly or not, is a rough road that belongs to the individual and the individual alone.

For someone to review this book after a loss similar to that of Campanella might be rough, as well, but would surely give them something to relate to.

Again, this story is not just a story. It's life. It's her life - and I respect her for sharing it in this manner. And I am truly sorry for her loss.

** I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review from TLC book tours. I was not compensated for this post and all expressed thoughts and opinions are completely my own. 

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Why I'm thinking about Facebook

So there you have it. I'm considering Facebook.

I'm hesitant.

I honestly have no interest in joining.

I never have.

But lately I've been thinking I should get with the times and create a page for my blog.

I need to know whether it's worth it - so I went to twitter and asked. Only a few replies. Most were positive. I'm still waiting to hear that one person say they couldn't live without it. Or maybe I'm just already that much closer and two responses were enough. I'm not sure yet.

I write. I write a lot.

I also read. A lot.

I'm a technological addict. I have an addictive personality when it comes to technology.

Just look at the number of tweets I have.

I don't want a page for me. Andrea. But I am contemplating one for me, Good Girl Gone Redneck.

Sigh. It's hard to go back on something that has become a strong part of your life.

It's stupid, isn't it? To be afraid to just say something like - screw it, I'll just sign up. What of it - right? Or isn't it? It's why many people I know are not on Twitter. I couldn't not be on Twitter. But I do not feel as though I need another window. Another way to communicate with the people I like chatting with. I don't want to follow thousands (okay, hundreds) of peeps on Facebook. And I don't believe I want thousands (again - exaggerating) of peeps following me.

Hmph.

What to do, what to do?

It's quite the conundrum.

Yes, it really is.

What do you think? Argue it for me, if you would. Join Facebook or not?

Tell me why. One way or the other. What's important. What are the benefits?

Is it really a requirement of future generations? The only way to move forward in social media and networking? Tell me what I'm missing.

And maybe, just maybe ... I'll consider it some more.

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The one where I keep on keeping on ...

Well, I didn't give up. I just slowed myself down this past week. I didn't work out every single day because my body needed a few minutes (or more) to settle in a bit. I needed to remind myself that every day isn't required, but the more I move the better it will be for me.

And so I weighed in yesterday and am down 1.6 lbs. And as much as the scale and numbers shouldn't mean so much to me - I was pretty psyched. Yeah, I'll admit it. I WANT to see the scale flashing lower numbers. I need that as a reminder that what I am doing is working and I'm losing weight.

Yes, the clothing getting looser or fitting better will be great. And it's already happening and that's cool. It's fantastic, really. I am wearing t-shirts that were slightly small on me and I like that they fit better. It's not something I'll go screaming about, I'm not quite smaller in size yet, or if I am I haven't been able to determine it because I haven't really gone to try on any clothes or anything. But whatever - point being - it's working. And I am reminding myself that it will and it can continue to if I keep at it.

This week is Passover so I'm having a low-carb week. Lower than you'd ever expect a pasta and bread addict like me to have. We'll see how my body does after that, I suppose.

I keep trying to remember the exact weight I started at so I can have a better idea of how much I have really lost. It shouldn't matter. I keep saying that. But we all know it does, right?

But more importantly it's about healthy living. Life-style changes. Things like this little pretty pink image that I have here:

I do this now. I really do. Weird, no? 

It's not that bad - even when I take longer to order because I am clicking around on my phone (I'm not being rude, I promise, I'm just trying to make educated choices!) at the table. 

It's part of what happens to me. What's changed in my day to day. 

I may not be exactly where I want to be yet, but I am more educated and informed and moving a LOT more. And yesterday? My husband took my kiddo to the Monster Truck Show. And me? I stayed home and watched TV. Did household chores. 

AND? 

I'm glad you asked. 

And I walked for an entire HOUR to the Wii Fit while catching up on some TV shows. Yeah. That was me. I'm pretty proud of me, too. 

So I hope you're having a good weekend. A good holiday. And don't overdo it. You'll feel guilty about it tomorrow if you're anything like me. You can still taste all of your favorites and enjoy without puffing out your belly like there's no meal tomorrow. And yes, I'm talking to myself more than I'm talking to you. But if you want to listen, hey, it's your call. Go for it. 

Thanks for joining me on my ride. I'm happy to not have to go it alone!

* As always my images are from my Pinterest acct. Either my Motivate Me! or Healthy Ways boards. 

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What happens next?

"Thank you for walking me home."

"Sure. Any time." Clara laughed softly. It was bizarre how comfortable she had become with him in just a few short hours. Or maybe even more so that she had felt it from the moment they had met.

"You really are quite the gentleman."

"And you're quite the lady," he chuckled. His goofy grin making her laugh even more. It was as if they were in an old romantic comedy together, their faces giving everything away. Romantic comedy? She gasped. This was her sister's - well - something. "I should go," he shifted uncomfortably. Was she imagining? 

"Not coming in to see my sister?"

"Uh, no. I'm thinking she's probably still out partying. If I know her she'll probably end up staying out tonight. So you shouldn't worry if you wake up and she isn't there. That's kind of her M.O." She nodded, deep in thought. "You okay?" Another nod. "You sure?" She smiled. 

"Are you always this intuitive?" He laughed, a big, huge guffaw type of a laugh. "Well?"

"Nah, I just have a good read on you, I guess." She raised her eyebrows at him, conjuring up another laugh. Much softer this time. "Must be from knowing your sister as well as I do." She blushed, but wasn't quite sure why. The innuendo? The comment about knowing her? Bah. He's just a big flirt, is all. And yet ... 

"Would you like to come in?"

What was she doing? Why did she say that? Had she lost her mind? Asking her sister's "whatever" in? I mean, seriously. Could she be any more desperate? He wasn't saying anything. He wasn't moving. What an idiot she was. How could she be so stupid?

"I'm sorry - I didn't mean to put you on the spot. Forget I said any --"

Her words dropped off as he reached for her hand. 

"Sure. Why not?" She was sure her eyes had widened as their skin made contact. He backed up a bit. "Unless you've changed your mind?"

She shook her head as she took his hand and they walked up the front steps together.  

This post goes along with the story I've been writing about Clara. I'm answering this week's Write on Edge prompt re: a little bit of romance.  It falls into place somewhere after this post about Nate and before this post titled Annie's Sister.

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Can you be a Ms-Fix-It? Yes. You. Can.

I'd like to take a moment to introduce you to my friend Kim, who blogs over at The Money Pit. 

If you haven't yet seen her blog you should go now and take a look. You'll be jealous enough to hate her, or totally inspired BY her. Take your pick. For me it's the former. I haven't been motivated enough yet to consider myself officially inspired. But anyway - - Kim and I know one another IRL, and she's someone whose work I think you'll enjoy checking out. So read on, and then click over, and find yourself inspired. Then send some of those motivated vibes my way - please ... 

When Andrea asked me to guest blog on GoodGirlGoneRedneck I was super excited.  I always love to share my love of home improvement and DIY projects, especially with other women/moms and I knew her readership was right up my alley. 
If you aren't a fellow DIY'r (or if you think you don't have the skills or desire to do simple repairs or improvements in your house) don't stop reading!  Trust me.. once you see how easy it really is, how much  money you can save doing it yourself, and how great it comes out when you are through you are going to be empowered too.  
A lot of women I talk to are afraid to tackle projects at home and often lament that it is "their husband's area of expertise." But I know if I waited for my husband to get around to a 'Honey Do' list I would die before it happened.  And that is how I got started blogging about home improvement.  I bought a house.. it needed a LOT of improvement.. and I had no money and nobody else willing to do it.  It was up to me.
My number one piece of advice for anyone thinking about tackling a project but freaking out because they feel clueless is this:  DON'T BE AFRAID!  
With the exception of a few things (like electricity), a home improvement project (even if you screw it up) will not kill you.  You can do this! 
I laugh when I hear on someone hiring "unskilled labor" to do a home repair.  If it is UNSKILLED surely I can handle it, I have an advanced degree for crying out loud! This isn't brain surgery.. it is painting a wall, fixing a toilet, hanging some shelves... 
And if you aren't sure what you are doing, that isn't a reason to not try.  There are so many people out there who are willing to help you, just ask.  Hardware stores aren't just for boys anymore!  Don't be intimidated.  

image source

I always remind myself (when I begin freaking out that I am in over my head) that *IF* I mess something up, there will always be someone I can call to fix my mistake.. nothing is forever.  No guts, no glory! (Although I can say that I have NEVER EVER needed to have someone repair damage I have caused attempting a project.  NEVER.  Somehow it has always worked out in the end.)
So jump right in.  Inspired by something on Pinterest?  DO IT! Something not working around the house and it is driving you nuts?  GOOGLE IT! 
YOU CAN DO THIS.. DON'T BE AFRAID! 
Pep talk over.  Time to talk DIY!  How 'bout Plumbing?!
Since we moved into our current house, the powder room faucet has always sprayed crazily.   An explosion of water in all directions (I didn't even know water could do an 180 degree turn, but it can!)   I have spent the last 6 months of my life wiping water stains off the mirror.  My husband told me to call a plumber and have the faucet replaced.
Umm.. yeah. No.  That would cost at least $50 for a new fixture and a couple hundred dollars for labor.  l decided to take it apart to figure out what was wrong with it  (Remember, you could always call a plumber if you can't figure out what is wrong.. but there is no need to call him first!)

To take apart a faucet, you just need to unscrew the spout to get at the "guts."  If you can't get it to unscrew with just your fingers, you can use a pliers to loosen it: 

Once it is loose, remove it completely  (make sure you close the sink drain so nothing gets lost!)

In my case I immediately realized what the problem was. 

The aerator was missing:

Ah Ha!   Off to the hardware store!

When selecting a new aerator there are TONS and TONS of choices.  

DON'T BE AFRAID!

It may be intimidating, but it isn't impossible.

When doing a repair project, it is always best to take exactly what you are fixing with you.  It will make selecting the right replacement part much easier (and if you are lost, you can always hold up the part to an employee and say "what is this and how can I fix it?")

Here are all the parts of my faucet spout:

It turns out when repairing a faucet aerator there are a few things you need to know:

How big is the spout and how is it threaded?

What flow rate do you want (how much water comes out)?

What type of flow do you want?

You don't know the answers?  Ask for help!   

Question 1: How big is the spout and how is it threaded?  

Well, lookie that.. 

Home Depot gives you a handy dandy cheat sheet right there in the store:

In my case it turns out that I had a 15/16 inch (27 thread count) spout.

That sign actually says "90% of faucet spouts are 15/16" Well, whoda' thunk! 

My faucet is average. 

Question 2: What flow rate do you want? 

My spout (like most) had the flow rate printed on it: 2.2 GPM (gallons per minute.)  Because we live where water is pretty valuable, and because the powder room is where my kids wash their hands (AKA play in the water) I decided I wanted to cut down on the flow rate.   Low-flow aerators range from 1-1.5 GPM.  I settled on a 1.5 GPM replacement.

Question 3: What type of flow do you want? 

Well, in my case I wanted ANYTHING that wasn't "spray all over every surface."  

However, if you are pickier than me, you can once again count on Home Depot to show you your options:

I decided on aerated, since that is typical for a bathroom faucet.  

This is all personal preference.

Now that I know what I need, I find it on that giant wall of faucet parts**.  

Here is what I buy (Notice the three yellow circles indicate the answers to the three questions we just answered):

Total cost: $4.89 (take that extra $200 you saved and buy some shoes!)

When you get it out of the package you can clearly see difference between it and the one that wasn't working correctly.  This one has a screen to keep the water aerated.

Before you put it back on your faucet want to make sure you assemble all the parts in the correct order (there is a diagram on the packaging):

Now screw it back onto the faucet and you are DONE!  That is all there was to it. 

Stand back admire your handy work:

A splatter free faucet. 
Now get out there and tackle those projects!  Don't be afraid! 


**Another option was to buy just the plastic insert and reuse the metal spout that was originally on my faucet.  My home depot was sold out of the small inserts that fit, so I settled on an entirely new spout. 

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