Surviving May & Washing My Jeans

Life has been busy hectic nuts crazy lately.  May is the new December, haven't you heard?  Concerts, ballgames, parties, birthdays, end-of-the-year everything--holy shit, it's a lot.  But no worries, I had time to do a couple vlogs.  And to make it more fun, Wade joined me.

Here's my May Day:

I'm linking up with Mama Kat's Vlogging Prompts to talk about hot topics.  Here's where I weigh in on the whole washing jeans discussion and why I just refuse to not wash.

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Vlogging Again-Valentine's Day

I haven't vlogged in a while and I miss it.   Because you know, I have a lot to say.  

YouTube and Google made a few changes to YouTube and I kind of struggle with change. But I'm back!  And I hope to start vlogging once a week.

This week is all about love and Valentine's Day. So, I linked up with Mama Kat's Vlogging Workshop to talk about a memorable Valentine's Day.  I'm going waaaay back for this one, back to the time when I got engaged.  Awww, so romantic and mushy, but of course there's a little catch.  Ch-ch-check it out.

(If you are an email subsriber, click here http://youtu.be/nhs9_Az7xeg to watch.)

Oh yeah, I'd love it if you subscribe to my channel I would LOVE it!  Click here.

And head on over and check out the other vlogs at Mama Kat's Losing It, click here.  

My Truth, Mamalode & Mama Kat

I don't know any other way except real anymore.  I mean I've always been real, but now I'm even more real.  And it is both freeing and scary.  Some people get it, some people don't...and that's cool. 

Source:Pinterest

All I know is that writing, sharing, connecting, laughing and putting my truth out there is how I roll.

Most of the time, it leads to deeper connections with people.  Most of the time I feel a sort of liberation, a free-to-be-me kind of vibe.  

Sometimes all the sharing can help me heal and get through the messy parts, the painful parts, of life.  

Sometimes all the sharing can make me laugh harder and dance more.

Sometimes all the sharing can lead to new opportunities to share more, connect more, get through more and dance more.
For example, the story of mine that was published on Mamalode yesterday.

I was nervous about sharing some of it, even though I already share so much.  But writing it felt good.
And as a huge fan of Mamalode, I just feel so honored and happy to be a part of the storytelling, the sharing, that they do.  

Check out my piece below (click here).

If you feel like sharing it, that would be quite wonderful and so very, very appreciated.


I also shared a more humorous, but very real story of what it's been like in our house the past few days.  We are stuck in a seemingly endless string of snow days, smack dab in the middle of the polar vortex. 

I'm linking up with Mama Kat's Vlogging prompts for this one.  Check it out:

Stuck in the Polar Vortex



(If you are an email subscriber, click here to watch.)

Head on over and check out Mama Kat's Losing It, she is hilarious, click here.

Thank you for reading, watching, sharing, commenting, supporting, laughing with (and at) me and encouraging me.  

The One Where I Sing On YouTube (again) & Linking Up With Mama Kat

I really haven't done any Christmas shopping yet.  I am the worst.  Crafting and baking and Fa-la-la-ing? I'm all over that.  Christmas traditions? Yup, got that too. But alas, my aversion to shopping and budgeting gets me every Christmas.  

Source: Click here for some last minute gift ideas too (found this on Pinterest).

Speaking of Fa-la-la-ing, I linked up with MamaKat's Vlogging Prompts this week to sing a favorite Christmas song.  And I wasn't even drunk when I made this video.  Yup.  Check it out.



(If you are an email subscriber, click here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7jaIZpH7cE&feature=share&list=UUohqceY-_fkMZ_POAVYBZ0g to watch.)

And check out the hilarious Mama Kat.


Speaking of Mariah Carey, here's my favorite holiday song from the Christmas Diva:




Speaking of divas, I can't not put a song up from the beloved Whitney Houston:



And since I referenced the Mandrell sisters in my video, this post wouldn't be complete without a video highlighting their amazing-ness.  

Giving Advice to Newlyweds & Linking Up With Mama Kat

I talk a lot about my marriage.  Just last week I was talking about how in love with my husband I am.  But I try to always keep it real, like in this post or this post .  So, when one of the vlog prompts over at Mama Kat's Losing It was to give newlyweds (like Kelly Clarkson) advice I found it a bit tricky.  I mean I don't want to scare the happily just-married folks with too much keeping  it real.  

Check out how I handled it here (and check out my first vlog with my attitude glasses on):

(If you are an email subscriber, click here http://youtu.be/PDFZ8RL6MOg to watch the video).

Let me know what your advice to newlyweds is.  And maybe more importantly whether or not you dig the attitude glasses or not.  And most importantly, subscribe to my YouTube Channel please.

Then head on over to Mama Kat and check out her HIGH-larious advice to newlyweds and some great last minute Halloween costumes that I am totally stealing.

And yeah, did you see Kelly Clarkson's sweet wedding video?

Fall Review & Linking Up W/Mama Kat

It's fall and I'm all about it.   

I'm linking up with Mama Kat's Vlogging prompts to review it.  

Check out how many stars I give the season in my latest vlog.

(If you are an email subscriber, click here to watch http://youtu.be/GPH_v504fII)

Check out this hilarious take on fall foliage from BuzzFeed.com.  It's stuff like this:

Go check out the amazing Mama Kat and the other vloggers that linked up this week. Click here.

In other YouTube news, here's a fun channel to check out: Cute Girls Hair Styles.  I first heard of this channel at BlissDom last year, but was reminded of it at the bus stop from another mom raving about it.  So, Lucy and I tried a few hairstyles and now I'm raving about it.  I'm sporting a fun "Bohemian FisthTail Braid" in the vlog.  Lucy also got the Fishtail look (click here for the how-to video).

We also did Sock Curls and Pancake Braids on Lucy and it was easy and fun.  Seriously.

  

Click here for the Sock Curl how-to video.

Click here for the Pancake Braids how-to video.




And don't forget to subscribe to MY channel.  
Happy YouTubing and Happy Fall.

Don't Call It A Comeback & a MamaKat Vlog Link Up

It's easy to get discouraged.  Sometimes I feel small, like what I'm doing is stupid.  

I'm talking about blogging and vlogging, it could be something else for you.  I'm talking about starting something, going for it and sticking with it.  Maybe it's to make money, maybe it's just to be creative and have fun, maybe it's to get all the voices out of your head.  I had you until the last one, right?  Okay I won't scare you with my neurosis, but you get it.  Right?

Over the past month, writing and blogging has helped me heal and feel less broken.  Connecting with people, motivating me to be creative, pushing me forward, teaching me about life, people and art.  Vlogging? Well, that's been harder.  I haven't wanted to sit in front of my flip cam or computer and talk.  

I suck at the sad vlog.  

Negative self-talk? I am a pro.  After not feeling the desire to vlog I started to say things like this in my head "why do you even vlog? no one watches" and "you don't have enough subscribers to matter."  Ouch.

Well, I'm fighting back and my inner bitch is going down.  I vlog because it's fun and creative and another way to connect.  I vlog because someday I hope I have more subscribers and can make a little money.  I vlog because I want to learn more about shooting and editing video.  I vlog because I have a voice and it matters.   I vlog because I want to.

Like an old LL Cool J song, don't call it a comeback.  I'm here and I'm sticking with it.  Today I'm proving it by posting a kick-ass vlog about....Kate Gosselin's hair.  Okay, they'll get better, but I'm sticking with it.  Cuz you know like LL says "I'm gonna take this itty bitty world by storm and I'm just gettin' warm."

Keep on keeping on with your something whether it's a vlog, a blog, a hobby a new business or your biggest, scariest dream.  Knock 'em out.

Here's the latest vlog, it's a link up with Mama Kat's Vlogging Prompts and yes, it's about Kate Gosselin's hair and what my obsession with it all means.  What does it meeeaaan????? (supposed to be a reference to famous YouTube double rainbow dude)

(If you are an email subscriber, click here to watch http://youtu.be/cPdthJcjIu0).

If you want to help me prove my inner bitch wrong, please go ahead and subscribe to my YouTube channel.


And go check out Mama Kat & the other vloggers that link up.

It wouldn't be right not to include this video.  You should play and do a little air boxing and/or kitchen dancing.  Seriously, do it.
LL Cool J's Mama Said Knock You Out

Dancing In The Kitchen (& linking up with Mama Kat)

Life is getting better, I'm getting better...my hormone levels are dropping, my energy is rising.  This is proof from a few days ago:


(If you're an email subscriber, click here http://youtu.be/TNX6JvK6XkQ to watch the video.)

I linked up with Mama Kat's Famous Vlogging Prompts.  She's one funny mother, check her out and the other vloggers that linked up--click here.

And speaking of dancing, remember the tutorial for you and your kids I made last summer?  The vlog that gives some ideas on how kids can dance a little more age appropriately?  In this day and age of Miley Cyrus and foam fingers and twerking, I think this is a good video to share again.  So here it is:

(If you're an email subscriber, click here http://youtu.be/ULUrXk8yxjw to watch the video.)

Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch new videos every week.  click here http://www.youtube.com/user/jumpingwithmyfingers.

My MakeUp MakeOver & A Link Up W/Mama Kat

I've mentioned my style icons growing up were the bleach-y blondes on my favorite TV shows, like Heather Locklear and Donna Mills.  Once when I was in 8th grade and just starting to experiment with make-up, I ripped out an eye makeup tutorial out of my mom's magazine featuring the amazing Donna Mills and copied it shade for glorious shade.  Ms. Mills' eye makeup looked something like this.  

Source

I wish I could find a picture of what I looked like.  I mean I'm sure my fellow middle schoolers were very impressed with my version of Donna Mills eyes.















Over the years I have become less interested in makeup.  My staples are concealer for my breakouts, powder to control my mild, undiagnosed Rosacea issues, my eyelash curler and my frosted lip gloss (my homage to the 1980s).  Every now and then I try something new like false eyelashes, but for the most part my makeup is pretty basic. 

One of the link up topics for Mama Kat's vlogging prompts this week was "Have Your Child Do Your Makeup."  I thought that would be an easy one since it's hard to mess up with my bland makeup.  But my Lucy had other plans.


We went to the drugstore and got the fancy cheap makeup.  She picked out the colors, mostly greens and pinks.  I sat down and let her do her magic.  Check out my makeover in this week's vlog:



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Check out Mama Kat and the other funny vloggers over on Mama Kat's Losing It.  Click here.

Come play with me on Instagram @jumpingwithmyfingerscrossed.

Come follow me on Twitter @AngelaYBlood.

Video Proof & Linking Up With Mama Kat

I've mentioned before how much I like road trips.  As much as I like being on the open road, this year was a little much.  This year was a little far even for me (have I mentioned I spent 46 hours in the minivan last week?) and a lot of time alone with my kids.

One of the vlogging prompts from Mama Kat this week is "Family time. Show us something you did together." So here it is, video proof of my family time, my road trip:

(If you are an email subscriber, click here http://youtu.be/Kij7h9qxU3E to watch.)

Please subscribe to my YouTube channel, 
click here!

In case you missed it, here were some of my concerns going into the trip:

(If you are an email subscriber, click here http://youtu.be/5YNi7giwHds to watch.)

Check out Mama Kat and the other funny vloggers over on Mama Kat's Losing It.  Click here.

Come play with me on Instagram @jumpingwithmyfingerscrossed.

Come follow me on Twitter @AngelaYBlood.

Denial (A Vlog & A Mama Kat Link Up)

I haven't vlogged as much this summer, but I'm getting back in the game.  This week, I'm talking about prepping to go on my big ol' road trip in a little over 24 hours.  Check out what I'm doing to prepare and why I have crazy eyes below:



(If you're an email subscriber click here http://youtu.be/5YNi7giwHds to watch.)

Subscribe to my YouTube channel here!

Follow us on our road trip on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.  The adventure begins this Thursday.

I also linked up with Mama Kat's Vlogging Prompts this week to give advice on how to apply false eyelashes.  It's an older video, but the advice is still good.  Yeah, it's advice on what not to do, but it's still good advice.  Check it out:

Puppy Apologies & Mama Kat Vlog Prompts

Who gets mad at puppies? Um, me, I do.  I'm sorry.  My puppy drives me crazy.  Whose idea was it to get a puppy anyway?

I'm linking up with Mama Kat's vlog prompts this week and talking about apologies.  Talking about who needs to say sorry to me and in first place it is my puppy, Cosi.  Check it out:

  
(If you are an email subscriber click here http://youtu.be/4jQbnocVwHc
to watch.)

Let me know what you think, here or on Facebook.  Speaking of Facebook, what do you think of Facebook birthdays?  Here's what I think about it:

 (If you are an email subscriber click here http://youtu.be/ZwrOWNm9_Ds to watch.)

Share or subscribe to my YouTube channel.  I'm trying to get to 100 subscribers by August 1.  It would be crazy wonderful to be in the triple digits, seriously. 

In case you missed it, here's the vlog from last week where I talk about censoring your kids' music:

(If you are an email subscriber click here http://youtu.be/1FLnpqbhD_Q
to watch.)

Check her out and the other funny vloggers over on Mama Kat's Losing It.  Click here.

Come play with me on Instagram @jumpingwithmyfingerscrossed.

Come follow me on Twitter @AngelaYBlood

Music, Censorship & Linking Up With Mama Kat

Music is a huge part of my life.  Huge.  I've always been the kind of person that has a song cued up for every mood, every situation.  From my record player in the old days to my iPod now.  Unfortunately, I am finding it difficult to find appropriate songs on the radio to listen to, sing along to and dance to with my kids.  Do you know what I mean?  

And what's up with the lazy censor on the radio?  You know the one where you can basically hear what the word says, but only the first consonant is left off.  I don't get it.  

I love the F word maybe more than anyone reading this, but that doesn't mean I say it in front of my kids or want them to say it or sing it.  Along with the A word, the S word and a whole slew of other words.  So what do I do?  What do you do?  

I'm linking up with Mama Kat's vlog prompts this week and talking music and my music dilemma---to censor or not to censor.  

(If you are an email subscriber click here http://youtu.be/1FLnpqbhD_Q
to watch.)

Let me know what you think, here or on Facebook.  

Share or subscribe to my YouTube channel.  I'm trying to get to 100 subscribers by August 1.  It would be crazy wonderful to be in the triple digits, seriously. 

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

(If you are an email subscriber click here http://youtu.be/Hmj9yXSlUQo to watch.)

Check her out and the other funny vloggers over on Mama Kat's Losing It.  Click here.

Come play with me on Instagram @jumpingwithmyfingerscrossed.

Come follow me on Twitter @AngelaYBlood