Tackle It Tuesday - what else but the laundry?

So, my dryer, precious dryer, was broken for 4 days! Not good. You just never know how much you love a dryer until you don't have one. In order to keep up with the laundry I have to do it at least every 2 days. I really try to do a couple loads every other day.

Add to the fact, that there is a load in the washer waiting to be dried and a load in the dryer also waiting and now they both have to be washed again because they have that yucky sour smell.

So, yes. Today, as in right after I finish this post, I am tackling my backed up laundry. And do you really want to see pictures of my dirty laundry? I think not. Maybe you are actually okay with it, but the real me does not want you to see my dirty laundry - literally.

I will show you the finished product of my sock folding tackle, though.

I have a terrible habit of just throwing all the socks in one basket until it gets pretty full and then folding them all at once. I usually do this in front of the TV, but since I am watching less TV the basket has been staying full. So, without any other laundry to do, I was able to fold 56 pairs of socks. 56 pairs of socks!

Isn't that crazy? And most of them were Hubby's. That guy has a serious amount of socks! Black, blue, brown, light brown, golf, workout...an entire large drawer full of socks. Well, it is full now. Yesterday, not so much and I think, as understanding as he is, he was getting a little peeved about having to retrieve his socks from the big laundry basket.

So, I tackled it! Now, it's on to the big stuff. big sigh. I missed my dryer, but it was kind of nice having an excuse NOT to do laundry now that I think about it.

The REAL you

I just wanted to let you know that I have inspired a discussion over at Mom Bloggers Club. So, my picture is right on the opening page with my discussion question as the feature for this week!

I have to say, I was a little excited. Mostly because someone thought it was also an important question to discuss. I get excited at these things.

I love this site! I have met a lot of really fun and encouraging women here that I chat with weekly. They have been supportive of my blog and I have enjoyed reading theirs. Within this club there are even smaller groups, like Christian Mom Bloggers, Southern Mom Bloggers, The Think Tank, Organic Mommies, Twitter Moms and a few others.

There are fun discussions mostly concerning what it is to be a mom and blogger at the same time, but also a lot of other just fun and interesting topics to talk about. They feature various blogs weekly and have a Mystery Mom Blogger featured each week.

So, head on over there and check it out and get yourself signed up. Oh, and join in on my discussion over there:

How much of the REAL you do we see on your blog?

Oh, and I just won a Free Cruzer Gator Flash Drive from The Mom Salon who is a major contributor to MBC! I was just getting ready to go out and buy one and lo and behold - I won!!! I am telling you blogging has allowed me to win more stuff than I ever have. I am so thankful! Thank you to The Mom Salon and Mom Bloggers Club.

If you comment on this post and want me to, I will email you a personal invitation to Mom Bloggers Club. I am not sure what difference it will make, but hey an invitation is always good!

Monday MMMM

This stuff is G O O D, good.

I love yogurt. I love Stoneyfield. I love this new Stoneyfield Greek Yogurt.

If you go here Oikos, you can read about it and get a coupon!

You must find yourself some and eat it up.

Fat Free.

Smooth and creamy.

Just enough sweet.

Fat Free

Fat Free.

Did I say that already????

Oh, and a bunch of other stuff that is really good for you and your digestive system.

A Real Pleasant Unexpected Treat

For the last 2 Saturday mornings, my children have allowed me to sleep in. We are normally up before 7 am, but these last 2 glorious weekend mornings, I have actually slept...past 7:30...past 8:00. 8:30, y'all! Eight. ding. dang. thirty.

It's like I am a single person without kids. You see, hubby sometimes works on Saturdays. So, here I lay in my cozy bed with my little dog snoring beside me. Hubby gone. Kids in the playroom - playing. Quietly. Not destroying anything. NOT. FIGHTING.

Last weekend, my 7 year old made breakfast. Sure I had to clean up cereal off the couch, but it was so worth the extra sleep. And her effort almost made me want to cry at how sincerely she wanted to help.

So, this morning, as I type, I have not even said good morning to my kids. They have shut the door to the playroom and are building a city out of blocks and Legos and Little People. I have listened in, lest you want to call social services for ignoring my kids all morning.

You see, as soon as I say good morning, the requests will begin. The "mommy needs" will start. "Mommy, I need this and Mommy, I need that." And sometimes, I love the break from those. Especially in the morning. I am not a morning person. I stay up too late almost every single night and wish every single day for more sleep each morning.

I don't even feel a little guilty for not acknowledging them, yet.
Well, a little.
I guess I wouldn't be blogging it, if I didn't need a little reassurance from you.
Plus, what is mothering without guilt?
But, I have actually been able to read, blog and enjoy an entire cup of coffee this morning without interruption.

That has been pleasant. A real treat. Unexpected. A real pleasant unexpected treat. How often do you get those?

Well, gotta go...I sneezed and they just realized, I'm up. Mommy is on! Let the fun begin.

Some things on my mind

I really do hope for my blog to be a place to come and be encouraged, but I gotta vent some things!

1. Season Finales. I don't watch much TV anymore. I really just don't have time. Blogging, reading, catching up on housework and emails, etc. etc. The list never ends. BUT, I do have a couple favorites that I enjoy watching when I need to veg out.

I get that they need to have Season Finales eventually, but since they just started up because of the writer's strike don't you think they would give us a couple weeks more of new shows? It is already ridiculous how the shows have gone to about 13 per season while being paid a million dollars an episode, but now we don't even get that!

And what happened to the Season Premier of "24" ? Where is Kiefer?



2. Love angst on my favorite shows. I know it keeps it exciting and you will come back to watch more, but why can't these people just be happy? Why is McDreamy taking up with Rose when he clearly is still in love with Meredith? Why why why?

3. Politicians and the fact that they need my money? What? I mean really - we are talking about millionaires here that need my donation to keep their campaign going. For what? So, we can continue to hear them debate the same things and mud sling. It absolutely infuriates me. I can promise you this if any candidate is reading. I will NEVER send money to any campaign unless I really believe in the candidate and they are dirt poor. Right - a poor politician, that's an oxymoron. Any extra money I have will go to the church and the hungry. Or build wells in Africa. Or sponsor a child.

4. Exercise and Food. Speaking of hungry...Why the more I work out, the hungrier I am? I know, I know. My body needs the energy, but hello, I am trying to lose some weight here which is one of the reasons why I work out. AND THEN, I am starving and need more food.

Which reminds me of another reason why I exercise. To relieve stress. Which is where I am going now - to cycling class.

Please share your comments on these things that are bothering me. Maybe you have some wisdom - please share.

Mother Styles

This was fun and quick. Apparently, I am the fun mom. I am not sure I always live up to that, but hey, I'll take it. I do really have fun with my kids. They are fun people. They laugh all the time and bring much joy to my life.

So, here were the results of my test.

Your type is: ENFP —The “Kids R Fun” Mother

“Whatever I enjoy—playing tag or singing in the car—I can do it with kids
around. And it’s totally legitimate!”

• Playful and energetic, the ENFP mother finds her children to be good company and enjoys being with them. In fact, she says being with children justifies her own “being a kid again.” And children say she’s fun to be with — spontaneous, hearty, and imaginative.
  
• Naturally drawn to introducing her children to the joys of life, the ENFP is something of a free spirit. She is less concerned with rules, routines, and schedules, and more inclined to give her children plenty of free time to play, explore on their own or with her, and have fun together.
  
• Tuned in to her children, the ENFP mother enthusiastically encourages each one’s individuality and unique potential through a great variety of experiences. She is also quick to identify with others feelings and thoughts, making her an empathetic supporter of her children, not to mention her mate and many, many friends.

Find out what kind of mom style you have here.

Sincerely 'Fro me to You - Prom 1988

Oh, I even used my scalloped scissors to scrapbook this photo!

In 1988 it was my Senior Prom. I spent many weeks preparing. When you are a Senior in high school, Prom is the biggest event ever. Nothing is more important and nothing could stand in between me and the local tanning beds. Beds - plural because I went to one every single day, sometimes two in a day. And that was against the tanning bed rules. There is a reason for this - a little thing called skin cancer. Oh sure, I heard the story of the girl frying up her insides by spending too much time in tanning beds, but when you are 17 and the prom is coming, who really cares?!?!?!

I got the dress in Kansas City. I don't know if you remember I have mentioned before that I lived in a small town. My friends and I went to the big city to find our dresses so they would be different than everyone else's. Well, after I found this dress, wouldn't you know it was in the window (but in hot pink) of a local boutique in town. When another one of my friends asked if I would mind her purchasing it even though it was like mine, I threw a real live teenage hissy fit. No way! Matching dresses even if they were in different colors at the Senior Prom? The horror.

The hair and make up? I think they speak for themselves. It was the 80's.

Those guys flanking me on each side are not my dates. Just my protectors from my dates. My brothers. The one on my left is getting married in June.

Well, that's it. I think my hubby purchasing me a scanner was a dangerous thing. The photos, I can pull out!

For more great photos from the past check out Sincerely Fro' Me to You at We are THAT Family.