Missing the Chaos, What I Know For Sure & #iPPP

Last weekend, I had more alone time.  A whole 24 hours this time.  And this time, I didn't go out dancing or drink too much or toss and turn.  No, this time I was quiet and thoughtful and got so. much. sleep.  

Tim took the kids to his parents' cottage early Saturday morning.  I waved good-bye from the front porch and then got back in bed, for hours.  I drank coffee and watched an Arrested Development marathon.  It was pretty f-ing wonderful.

 I watched 238 episodes in a row in preparation for the new Netflix season, which I'm only a few episodes into and not thrilled with.
Have you watched the new season?  What do you think?

 I didn't talk to anyone except my puppy Cosi.  She and I kind of bonded, which quite frankly after a few rough months together, it was needed.

I fought the urge to call friends and family I haven't spoken to in forever.  I enjoyed not talking, teaching, answering questions, asking questions, saying the right thing or saying the wrong thing.

I walked down the street to get lunch.  It was so strange to go at my own pace.  No hurrying.  

Just one foot in front of the other, breathe deeply, smile at strangers passing by, nod to the biker, notice landscaping I haven't seen before, appreciate the sun on my face...nothing but sidewalk ahead.  

The restaurant I went to was closed which would've been a big deal if I had four kids tagging along possibly throwing fits.  But not the new well-rested, Zen me.  I walked home enjoying my sunny sidewalk and went with restaurant plan b.  

I got on my bike, the bike with the kid trailer, the empty kid trailer.  I rode through the park to the sandwich shop.  

Then I secured my glorious sandwich in the trailer and headed home.  Several people attending a Memorial Day Weekend festival in the park peeked into the trailer somewhat surprised to see a sandwich and not a cute baby.  I rode on proudly, got back home, got back in bed and ate my lunch.

It was all good.  But ultimately, I missed the noise.  I missed the chaos.  I missed my kids.

Don't I look calm?  This is moments before the family returned, I know I won't look this calm until the next time I'm alone and that's okay.

Being alone is good therapy for sure.  But my life is all crazy and loud and full of answering questions and asking questions.  Time is going to go fast, hell it already has, and before I know it, my kids will be graduating and moving on and that will be good, but it will be quieter.  My time alone made me love my time surrounded by my chaotic, loud, family, I know that for sure (this week).

Here's what else I know (this 

week):

• Helpers are awesome.  Wade is at that fun age when he thinks cleaning is fun and wants to "help" with every chore.

• I hate bathing suit shopping.  I am heading to the store this weekend and I dread it.  I just dread it.   Here's a post from Buzzfeed that gives 12 good reasons why we should all be wearing 1960s bathing suits and asks "what is so goddamn wrong with wearing a one-piece?"

source: buzzfeed.com

• Looking glamorous can be dangerous.  In this week's vlog I attempt at applying false eyelashes almost results in me losing my vision in one eye.  In case you missed it, check it out.

Please subscribe to my YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/jumpingwithmyfingers.  

I'm trying to get 100 subscribers by August 1.  

Help me reach my lofty goal.

• Nothing wrong with the 90s.  The past couple weeks I've written a lot about the 1980s here and here and here.  But the 90s had it going on too.  Here's my summer jam from my single post college days, La Bouche anyone?

Oh wait, what about Heavy D's Now That We Found Love?  I'm going way back and I love it.  Totally doing more posts on the 90s.  "Keep it funky."

• The baby of the family, Wade, is a good sport.  And he just rolls with it.  You want to paint nails and play dress up? He's game.  You want to play hockey? He's game.  He's a cool kid that baby Wade (who's not really a baby, but a baby to me).

• There's no shame in flossing. Do you have a Floss Face?  If not, get one and take a picture and you could win an iPad.  For real.  And head on over to this post and comment to win a six-pack of dental floss, which doesn't sound like a lot, but dude it's quality floss, the good stuff.  Click here and may the floss be with you.

What do you know for sure (this week)? C'mon, we're friends, share what you know. Have a good back story? Tell me about it. Leave a comment here or on the Facebook page.

  Please come play with me on Instagram @jumpingwithmyfingerscrossed.

I'm linking up today with my good buddy Greta from  Gfunkified.com and Sarah at SundaySpill.com for the #iPPP link up.  They host a link up where they encourage people to share "your funny, your yummy, your heartfelt, your favorite photos of the week" from our phones.  Check them out.

Oh yeah, and come follow me on Twitter @AngelaYBlood, subscribe to my MomPulse YouTube channel here and follow my Pinterest boards here.

Flossing

We were all crammed into the elegant, but smallish, office looking at molds of teeth. X-rays of teeth.  Pictures of teeth.   The orthodontist was giving me information about my oldest son's overbite and told me one side of his teeth lined up, but uh-oh the other side didn't.  How is that even possible?  I listened carefully.  But all the technical bite information and the cost breakdown was making my mind a little foggy and my heart a little jumpy.  It was all kinds of overwhelming.  

It felt like it was just a few years ago, it was me in Dr. Seabold's chair praying that it would be the day my braces came off.  How could it have been almost 22 years ago? 

Hello awkward.
What would I say to my 16-year-old self? Wear your retainer!
And floss. 

My teeth were a mess growing up.  A bad car accident and not wearing a seat belt left me with a broken jaw at age 5 and very complicated bite issues for the next 12 years.  The day I got my braces off is in the top ten days of my life.  I felt free---free from feeling insecure about my crooked teeth and hideous bite, free from getting food caught in my braces.  It was a good day.  I felt almost glamorous with my new straight, white teeth, like a girl in a toothpaste commercial.  I smiled for a week straight, which is a big deal for a teenager. 

But just like a teenage girl, I was a little too into other teenage girl stuff (like watching 90210 and writing in my diary) to take care of my teeth.  Wear my retainer? Um, no thank you.  Floss? Didn't I already mention 90210 was on?

The years went by fast and honestly my teeth habits didn't really get any better.  I would floss right before my dentist appointment, if I remembered to make an appointment.  Not until the last few years, not until I began teaching my own children to brush and floss and take care of their teeth, did I start paying attention to my own.  Yes, not being a hypocrite is a very important chapter in the parenting manual.  Be an example, a role model, it reads. So, I started brushing better and flossing more.

The last time I was at the dentist they talked to me about my gums receding.  They told me it's irreversible and usually related to age.  "Are you telling me I'm long in the tooth?," I asked after rinsing my mouth.  "Like the phrase that means you're old?"

Being "long in the tooth" means I must have gained some wisdom along the way.  Like the importance of taking care of my teeth.  Like knowing when a floss is really, really good.  

I've actually become a bit of a floss and tooth paste expert or connoisseur if you will. That is why I jumped at the opportunity to share information about the hands-down best floss out there--Oral-B® Glide.  Their tag line should be "this floss will make you happy" because it just does. 

This isn't your mom's flimsy, skinny little floss.  Oral-B® Glide is serious floss that makes you feel like you are really making a difference every time you use it.  It has been clinically proven to help reverse gingivitis.  It also protects against cavities and bad breath.

Sitting with my four children looking at all the teeth brought it all back.  The years I wished I'd flossed and brushed better and worn my retainer.  My kids were wide-eyed and mesmerized with the teeth molds and the fancy braces.  

"Any questions?" the orthodontist asked.

"No, I can't think of any right now," I said my mind racing.

"Yes, in the back," he replied, pointing behind me.

Apparently, my daughter had a question.  She had her hand raised high up in the air waiting patiently to be called on.  

"So, does he need braces or what?" she wanted a bottom line for her brother.

Bottom line is yes, he needs braces and we need to figure out how to pay for it.  Bottom line is that when you know better, you do better.  Bottom line is taking care of your teeth is important.

And here's the thing about taking care of teeth and flossing in particular, you can do it anywhere.  There's no shame in flossing.  Do it in your car, in your back yard, at the restaurant (preferably in the restroom, but whatever).  With each floss you are taking care of yourself.  You are a role model. 

Share your Floss Face pictures here  bit.ly/FlossFace

Oral-B® is hosting a Floss Face Contest.  Take a picture of yourself flossing (I dare you to take the picture at the restaurant) and post it here bit.ly/FlossFace.  Every first time entrant will receive a tote bag with Glide products (while supplies last) and every two weeks from now until July 7th, someone will win an iPad.

To get YOU started I'm giving away one package of six Oral-B® Glide flosses. Leave a comment here or on my Facebook page and a winner will be randomly chosen in one week from today.

Now go take care of your teeth. May the floss be with you. Ugh, sorry, I had to it was right there and too good. 

I participated in this sponsored campaign for One2One Network. I received monetary compensation and product to facilitate my post, but all opinions stated are my own.

Totally Fake (Eyelashes): A Vlog

I've said it before, my sense of style as far as make-up and hair goes is a little stuck in time.  I'm all about the feathered hair, frosted lipstick and heavy eyeliner.  I'm all 1980s.  Sadly not in a retro-hipster-let's-bring-back-the-80s, cool kind of way.  More like one of those women on the makeover shows who don't cut their hair for 25 years or who wear the tight, too-revealing clothes and embarrass their families.

My style icons growing up (ahem and now) were Heather Locklear, Heather Thomas from The Fall Guy and Donna Mills from Knot's Landing. 

Heather Locklear of course.

The amazing Donna Mills.

I went through a dark phase in college and dyed my hair a purple-red, but then went back to blonde.   I always say, I feel more like myself as a total fake.

It's hard for me to break out of my hair/makeup rut.  

I work very hard to look like it's 1985.

A couple weeks ago, I got dressed up and went out on a date to a fancy event.  I thought it was a good time to jazz my look up, so I fought the urge to feather my hair and ditched the frosted lip gloss.  And I wore false eyelashes---both to be glamorous and to look more awake.

With the help of my assistant,  my daughter Lucy, this week's vlog chronicles my attempt at 21st century glamour.  It's basically me trying not to glue my eyelids together.  
Check it out:

(If you are an email subscriber, click here http://youtu.be/DrCb0eTbL4g to watch the video.)

Let me know what you think, here or on Facebook.  What do you do to get out of a style rut?  Or to feel glamorous?

Share or subscribe to my YouTube channel.  I'm trying to get to 100 subscribers by August 1.  A lofty goal for a girl that struggles to put on fake eyelashes I know.  But at first when there's nothing but a slow blowing dream, that your fear seems to hide deep inside your mind, all alone I have cried...okay wait that's Flashdance.  See?  Totally stuck in the 80s and still trying to make my passion and make it happen.

In case you missed it, here's the vlog from last week:


Because I've got a feeling...that since I mentioned Flashdance, I should play the music video.  This is one of the reasons I love YouTube, you can watch videos from the 1980s!  So.much.fun.

Even thought I didn't link up a video with Mama Kat this week, check her out and the other funny vloggers over on Mama Kat's Losing It.  Click here.

Summer, Nutella & Pinterest Poser Challenge

Summer is my season.  It's my time to shine.  No reminding people about homework or getting people to school on time.  Just wide open days, sunshine, fun to be had and memories to be made.  I'm all over that.

This week's Pinterest Poser Challenge*** is all about the fun we are going to have this summer. Plus a little sweet snack that is my new all-time favorite and it's gluten free.

 **In an attempt at not being a Pinterest Poser,* every week I  detail a new Pinterest challenge whether it be a new recipe or a craft.   

*My definition of a Pinterest Poser is someone who is all pins and no substance.

Summer is a lot like Pinterest or like what being tall and thin must be like.  You have a bad day in the summer, well at least it's usually sunny and you get to wear flip-flops. You have a bad day when you're tall and thin, you can always tell yourself "oh well, I'm still tall and thin, so it's all good."  You make something that's not so perfect on Pinterest, no worries there are five billion more projects you can make.  The projects I made this week happened to turn out great.

Every year, the kids and I make a summer list--a list of all the fun things we plan on doing.  We usually do it on the last day of school, but this year Memorial Day, the unofficial official beginning of summer, seemed like the perfect time.  So, I sat the kids down and we brainstormed.  

Yes, Lucy is wearing my wrinkled up old prom dress from 1990.  But of course. 

It was quick, easy and fun.  Now, the list is up on our kitchen wall chalkboard for everyone to see.  The last two weeks of school, this chalkboard will serve as a reminder of the fun that is coming up.  During the summer, if the kids get bored, I'll just point to the chalkboard.

We also wrote down a few of the fun road trips we have planned.  

Summer is right around the corner and it's going to be soooo good.

You know what else is soooo good?  Peanut Butter Cookie/Nutella Sandwiches.  Yeah, that's right.

These tasty treats prove that eating gluten free can be so delicious.  First, I made the peanut butter cookies using this recipe from simplyrecipes.com.  I simply substituted gluten free flour in place of the gluten filled flour.  After I baked the cookies and let them cool, I slabbed some yummy Nutella on a one side and then smooshed another cookie on top.  Yup, slab and then smoosh and then walla! you have a most delicious cookie sandwich to enjoy.

Make a cookie, then make a list and get ready baby, because this summer is going to be amazing.

Have you made something from Pinterest lately?  Had any great successes? Or advice?  Or warning about a project that's a total waste of time? Do tell.

Please share whatever you're working on in the comments here or over on Facebook.  Come on over and follow my Pinterest boards.

Here are some of the projects I've already attempted, the good and the bad:

Painted Mason Jar Vases-click here

Cinco de Mayo Paper Flowers- click here

Earth Day Cupcakes- Click here

Nail Art-click here

Homemade Photo Booth Fun- click here

Fake Bangs- click here

DIY Subway Art- click here

Furniture Painting and Bench/Chest Makeover- click here

Thanksgiving-y Project/Gratitude/Holiday Countdown- click here
The Smoothie-click here

The Free Printable Turned Artwork in a Boring Hallway- click here

The chalk board-click here
Seven Layer Dip in Individual Cups (my favorite so far!)-click here
The pumpkin address-click here
The Kitchen Dancing Sign--click here

Come play with me on Instagram @jumpingwithmyfingerscrossed.

Oh yeah, and come follow me on Twitter @AngelaYBlood and subscribe to my MomPulse YouTube channel here.

Looking Back

Memorial Day is a day of remembering.  Remembering those brave souls that died in service defending our freedom.  Remembering family and friends we have lost.

It's also a day of barbecues, block parties and picnics.  It's the officially the unofficial kickoff of summertime.

So, I hope that you are barbecuing or block partying while you are remembering. I hope that as you look ahead to the summer that is just beginning you are filled with hope, happiness and sunshine.  That sounds a little hokey and sappy for me.  But something happens to me in the good old summertime, I get nicer, happier, more patient, more fun.  I love summertime.

Here's a look back at one of my happiest memories from last summer, our road trip.  The road trip in the  van without air conditioning that should have made me grumpy and spiteful, but it turned out to renew my faith in humanity.  

Yup, it w as a big deal.
Click here to read all about it.

Happy Memorial Day everyone!

Back Story, What I Know For Sure & #iPPP

I posted this picture on Facebook last Sunday with this caption: Walking through the door the next morning in the same dress, carrying my heels means I had a lot of fun. #noshame 

No back story.  
On what happened the night before, why I'm carrying a plant or about why my yard looks like crap.  Just the picture and the caption.

It's probable that a few people raised an eyebrow or two at the picture. It's also probable that a few people smiled a "yeah, that's right" kind of smile and nodded at the picture. It's possible that a few friends from a million years ago when I was a million years younger might have thought "well, that looks familiar" or "guess some things never change."   It might even be possible that a few people who I haven't actually spoken to in a couple years thought that maybe Tim and I had broken up.  It was that last reaction that made actually made me clarify the part of the back story a bit with this comment:

Tim surprised me w/a room at the hotel where we were attending an event. He went home & took care if the kids and I got a good night's sleep and slept in!!! So not scandalous, but so good.

Yes, my sweet my husband surprised me.  It was an out-of-the-blue, really wonderful surprise.  Possibly not the most well thought out plan, but that's not how we roll so I didn't mind.  You see, my beloved husband got me a room, but didn't tell me until we were in the bar at the hotel and he didn't pack me a bag.

That night I didn't really care.  After taking forever (five minutes) to convince me to accept his generous offer, I decided to celebrate by drinking.  A lot.

And then I proceeded to dance. A lot.  If there was a job called "Dance Floor Starter" I would totally want that job. Because it's what I do.  I can't help myself.  If there is a dance floor and nobody on it, I must go there and dance and dance and dance.

Tim went home to take care of the kids pretty soon after I started gettin jiggy with it.  Around midnight, I headed up to my swanky room.  But I didn't want to go to sleep.  Duh, I was alone, I wanted to make the most of it.  So I watched Letterman then Fallon.  I played around on Twitter and Instagram.  And then I had the brilliant idea to take a bath.  I usually hate baths, they seem boring and I just don't like the idea of sitting in dirty water.  But that night, I had access to a fancy tub that was way cleaner than mine, so I took a bath.

I grabbed the only magazine in the room, some welcome-to-the-Detroit-area-you-must-love-cars magazine and yeah, I drew a bath (kind of never thought I would ever type that phrase).  Between the boring magazine and the gajillion celebratory glasses of alcohol I had, I was feeling sleepy.  But then I freaked out because wasn't that how Whitney died?  In a hotel bath tub?  Sure, I wasn't smoking cocaine rolled up in a joint, but still.  I jumped out of the bath tub and made my way to the king size bed, happy to be alive.

The next morning I woke up at 6 a.m.  Not because I had to.  Because I couldn't sleep.  I was beyond frustrated and tossed and turned and tossed and turned and managed to sleep for another half an hour.  Frazzled and hungover, I laid there for another couple hours and then decided to just head home.  Only problem, I didn't know where Tim parked the car.  (He walked home the night before because the house is only about a mile away from the hotel.)  I called and he told me he parked the car behind the hotel, across the bridge, next to the trees, in the empty lot.  

"Um, the lot where all the people park to go the farmer's market on Saturday mornings?" I asked realizing that yup, it was a Saturday morning.

So, looking like a tired, old hooker, I made my way to the car. I made my way through the back lobby nodding at the guys cleaning up from the charity event where I'd danced the night away.  I made my way over the bridge.  That's where I decided to ditch the heels and wear the slippers from the hotel.  I was supposed to take them right?  They were like a favor right?  I made my way past the trees, through the empty lot smiling at families that were getting out of their cars to head over and buy hanging plants and herbs at the farmer's market.  Most of the moms and dads looked away, one younger man smirked and the kids just stared.  

I wanted to smile, laugh and say "There's a back story here people and it's pretty innocent."  But I just smiled and laughed.

Every picture, every person (even suburban moms that look like tired old hookers) has a back story. 

Wade came out to greet me and hand me the morning paper.
The back story on our yard? Um, we just have a really crappy front yard and can't grow grass.
The plant?  It was the centerpiece from our table at the event.

Sometimes the back stories are scandalous, sometimes they are sad, sometimes they are funny...but we all have them, I know that for sure this week.

Here's what else I know (this 

week):

• My totally favorite song this week is Inner Ninja.  I mean the name of the song alone is ahhhhmazing.  Listen and enjoy.  Favorite line and motto for the week is "Find that extra (UH) and push your way through it."  It works much better when you sing it like it sounds in the song. Oh just listen and you'll know what I'm talking about.

• Wade felt like he scored a major touchdown by messing up every one of Lucy's Barbie "set ups" while she was at school.  Lucy wasn't as excited as Wade.

• I made a vlog answering almost 32 random questions and my kids asked them.  If you missed it, check it out.  It was fun.

• My kids don't need fancy electronics to keep them entertained.  JT got a hammer, nails and some wood for his birthday and it has kept him busy and happy for days.

• I love Twitter, but people can be so mean.  That's why I love the Mean Tweets segment on Jimmy Kimmel.  Here's Mean Tweets 4.

• I know what I'll be doing this Sunday night.  Arrested Development is back and I can't wait.

What do you know for sure (this week)? C'mon, we're friends, share what you know. Have a good back story? Tell me about it. Leave a comment here or on the Facebook page.

  Come play with me on Instagram @jumpingwithmyfingerscrossed.

I'm linking up today with my good buddy Greta from  Gfunkified.com and Sarah at SundaySpill.com for the #iPPP link up.  They host a link up where they encourage people to share "your funny, your yummy, your heartfelt, your favorite photos of the week" from our phones.  Check them out.

Oh yeah, and come follow me on Twitter @AngelaYBlood and subscribe to my MomPulse YouTube channel here.