Not Going As Planned

My body is taking its sweet time healing. I had a hernia repair and scar tissue removal on June 11 and finally tomorrow I get my stitches out. I'm having some complications. I have a massive swollen knot a few inches above my incision. The doctors have disagreed as to what it is (talk about not making me feel at ease). I'm trying to just be understanding and do what I can. I never realized how difficult it would be to heal with a toddler. The doctor keeps saying no lifting but I have to pick him up. Even with other people around they just can't do it all. It's awful and I really hate relying on others. 

Tomorrow is July and my summer just isn't going quite as planned. I'm sorry for the pity party. 

I'll share a little about my bad little Jack who is a mess. 

He is spunky. He goes up to his cousin who is twice his size and just smacks him. Of course, he is just doing it so Bennett will chase him because it is a little game they play. Sometimes Bennett doesn't want to play so he will just want to hit him back. They will slap back and forth. Jack will get his feelings hurt and start crying but the whole time he is continuously slapping. We have to break them up. I guess I will never have to worry about my child getting bullied. 

He loves drinking out of a big boy cup and saying ahhh. He also loves drinking out of a straw. He trashes his room daily. I will go in there and show him how to put toys in his containers and he will do it too and then he will dump them all out right then and there. He laughs hysterically. It is a lost cause. His favorite thing is to dump out his socks. 

One exciting thing about summer is that Big Brother is back. So far I don't really have a favorite. I will say Frankie sticks out to me as a good player who is also funny. I also like the girls wearing glasses. 

So basically to sum things up, my surgery healing is not going as well as planned, my child is a straight up mess, and I'm loving that Big Brother is back on tv. 

I Guess We'll Keep Him

There was this dog that we have named Charlie. We really didn't want to keep the dog because we are busy enough without the added stress of having a dog. Jack makes enough of a mess for 5 kids and a slew of dogs. Good thing he is so stinkin' cute. 

I tried my best to get someone to take the dog off our hands. I put his picture and information out on social media. The dog can't help it but yeah he is kinda ugly.

We were keeping him in our carpet-less den but he is not house trained and I got sick of cleaning up that mess. Since it is summertime I'm home and able to take him out during the day (not to sure how things will go come August). Can a dog become house trained at 4? So basically can you really teach an old dog new tricks? 

Charlie is "special". He will not walk on the living room floor. He just sprawls out like he is on ice (his feet are shaved so that's not the issue). Plus, we learned from keeping him in the den, that if he can just walk around he will pee all over the place (he's a boy dog). Side note: he doesn't hike his leg to pee. I told you he was "special". He also will not cross thresholds. He doesn't bark. He just makes this crazy whaling noise when he is all excited. 

Jack loves Charlie. I mean really loves Charlie. When Jack is in a bad mood, Charlie can turn his mood around. Jack loves to lay his head on Charlie. He wants to pull his tail so badly but I have to remind him to be nice. His tail is very inviting.

Jack no longer uses his playpen so it is now Charlie's. When it's nice out Charlie spends some time outside. We bring him in usually mid-morning. We still keep his food in the den and take him in there for a period of time 3 times a day. Most of the day charlie lays around in his playpen. His favorite spot is when we put him on the couch. Jack has full access to him then so we have to stay on top of the situation so Jack continues to play nice. Charlie doesn't bite or even growl so we know Jack's safe but we don't want Charlie hurt in any way. 

So the dog that we REALLY wanted to get rid of is apparently one of the family.

Skirt on the Ground, Skirt on the Ground, Looking Like a Fool

It's been two weeks since I've had my hernia repair and scar tissue removal surgery. Yesterday was an unusually bad day. Wanna hear about it? Great! 

Jeremy was at work and since I'm still recovering from surgery my mom stayed the night with Jack and I. The night before I had a severe migraine while the house slept. At 4 am as my headache was easing up and I was drifting off to sleep Jack woke up screaming. After getting him back settled I was able to get some sleep until 6. Not the best way to start your day.

While my mom ran uptown to get some McDonald's (I sure do love the iced mochas!) I got a call that there was a cancellation and that I could have that appointment if I got there in less than 40 minutes. Here is where I have to get real. Some may say that it is inappropriate to share but the purpose of this blog is to show the good and bad of marriage and parenting. Jeremy and I have decided to seek marriage counseling. This appointment was my one on one session and first meeting with Doc. Jeremy had met with him previously. For now I'll just say that I liked the therapist a lot and am very optimistic about what he can do for us. 

After therapy I did some grocery shopping (I know, I know I'm suppose to be taking it easy). My Mom has RA and a knee that is stripped and needs replaced. I hate asking her to do too much because she has a hard time moving around. Did I defend myself enough?  

We hang at the house for a little while and the whole time Jack was into everything. He would jump from cabinet to shelf just throwing things in the floor. He was on one for sure. We had to leave here at 3:45 in order to make it to my appointment. I was getting a check up and having my draining tube removed. My mom received an important phone call right before we were suppose to leave and we ended up leaving late. 

During this whole day I'm in horrible pain.

While I am in the examination room I can hear Jack screaming and making a ruckus. It was so stressful knowing he was causing such a scene and that my mom was doing all she could to try to contain him. I'm there listening to this as the nurse removes a long tube from my stomach that was not fun coming out. The doctor then informs me that it looks like I have an infection. It's time to go so I open the door to the waiting room when Jack takes off running into an exam room. 

I really needed to start my medicines so I had to get them filled there (an hour away from home). I drop them off inside Wal-Mart and we decide to catch a bite to eat at a restaurant right next door while we waited. 

Jack acted crazy in there. We were sitting in a booth with Jack in a booster seat. Of course, the seat belt was broken and he would not stay seated. He threw every piece of food we gave him and would scream. He was so mad that we wouldn't let him get down and run around the restaurant. I have never seen him act out as much as he did. I hadn't eaten all day and all I wanted was to eat my burger. My mom had even ordered herself a steak. We ended up leaving before we could finish eating. What we did eat was scarfed down between wrestling Jack. My mom and I both left feeling extremely stressed. It had been one long stressful day.

She drives me over to Walmart. I get out a few car lengths before the entrance so I don't have to wait for all the cars to move. As I'm walking as quickly as I can to the door my skirt hits the ground. Yep! That's right! My skirt is around my ankles in the front of the Wal-Mart. I didn't even realize it at first because I had a binder (something I have to wear due to the surgery) on so I didn't really feel a breeze. There was a lady directly behind me who was very concerned. I tried to embarrassingly explain that my skirt was loosened because I had just recently been keeping a drainage pump tucked into my waistband. I turned around to see if my mom was looking and she had her face buried into her hands laughing uncontrollably. Nice, mom!

I hightailed it through the store getting a few other things I needed to get and got in line behind a family of three. The mom, dad, and little girl were all dirty but happy looking. The dad swiped his food stamp card and the cashier informed him that they went over the amount that was on the card. I watch them confer and they decided to put the most expensive item back, a bag of frozen chicken. They were then a little over a dollar short so they put back the mac and cheese. I asked them "Can I please buy these items for you?". They were shocked and kept saying "really?". They thanked me over and over and all I could think was "God, please let this good deed bring me some good karma". 

I get my medicine and walk outside to find my mom (while holding on to my skirt for dear life). I get into her truck and we just laugh and laugh. She said the best part was that when she first saw it she didn't know it was me and was laughing at how embarrassed that person must be. When she realized it was me she really got to laughing. She said, "Ashley, I really needed that". 

We had been so stressed and snappy and pissy and frustrated and angry and then plop my skirt goes down and turns our day completely around. 

What's Up Wednesday

Hi y'all! It's Wednesday, but now that it is my summer vacation it isn't so much a hump day for me. The only way I know it is Saturday or Sunday is that General Hospital doesn't come on tv. My days just seem to run together. 

Since I had surgery last week this hasn't been a typical summer break but it hasn't been all bad. I hope that this surgery will lead to a better me. I've also gotten to spend a lot more time with Jack. 

Jack is 19 months old now and is such a silly boy. He climbs on everything. If you say "thank you" he gives you whatever is in his hand and then he claps. He loves praise. He'll also grab you by your hand and lead you where he wants you to go. Usually he takes you to the baby gate because he wants you to open it. There is something about the kitchen that he just loves. I'm pretty sure it is only because he doesn't get to go in there much. 

He loves cucumbers!

Jeremy is working a lot because we have a ton of medical bills. Since he's not able to be here while I'm recovering I've had to rely on my mom. Jack and I stayed at my parent's house this past weekend and were able to come home Monday when Jeremy got off work. It was short-lived since he went right back to work Tuesday. Thankfully, my mom came to our house to make things easier. 

With my extra downtime I'm reading "Save Me" by Lisa Scottoline. So far, so good. I am reading it slowly because I've been reading too many blogs lately (is there really a such thing?). I'm watching too much SVU. I'm still loving the show Playing House. The other day I tried the Strawberry Fields salad from Wendy's and it is very tasty. I've also been on a Fruit Loops kick which happens every few months. I'll literally eat it for every meal until I get burned out. My dad's garden is overflowing with goodness so we have also been eating a lot of fresh goodies. 

Well that pretty much sums up my world lately. Fascinating, I know! 

Until next time....

My Favorite Pins (Part 2)

You can see my favorite pins part one here. 

I have made these cookie bars more times than I can count. Sometimes I switch the chocolate chips for white chocolate chips or butterscotch chips. They are made with simple ingredients that I usually have on hand so they usually get whipped up last minute when I get a sweet tooth.

 

I made this dry erase frame a year ago for my husband on our anniversary. To this day it sits in our bedroom and we actually still use it. The messages have been loving, funny, and even the start of an apology. 

Another recipe that I've made numerous times. Of course it is delicious but it also is simple to make. I've made this in cupcake form for brunch and also just as a cake. I now have people request I make this cinnamon roll cake. 

I pinned this patriotic fan wreath just the other day. I'm not the best with making wreaths so when I saw this simple one I knew I wanted to make one of my own. We don't have a Target nearby so I hope to find a patriotic fan at a local store. I also don't have ribbon with stars on it but I plan on using burlap and either using a star stamp or a star cutout. I'll let y'all know!

These ham and cheese sliders are the perfect snack food. My friend made these for me before I found the pin. We had a pumpkin decorating party with a few friends and these were so yummy. I've since served these are two things myself. 

A hometown passport is such a fun idea. In order to really see how cool it is you have to check out Erin's site at Love, Fun, and Football. She can really be creative! 

This picture is just one example of the endless possibilities of what you can do with ceramic, a marker, and a stove. Decorative plates make the best gifts because you can really personalize them. I made Jack a celebration plate to use on his birthday and any time he does something great.

My Favorite Pins (Part 1)

Since I'm still taking it easy as I recover from my hernia repair surgery, I thought I would share with you some of my favorite pins. Enjoy my friends!

My mom is a huge German Chocolate Cake fan so when I ran across this German Chocolate Pie recipe I quickly pinned. It's one of those recipes that doesn't require any crazy ingredients and an added bonus is that it is super easy to put together. It is absolutely delicious! 

 

When I read the tutorial for these LOVE letters I knew right away that it was going to be one of those pins that would never become a reality. It isn't look too difficult to make but it does look very tedious and I'm not so good with patience. I would love to make this vertical and put in our family room. 

I've been in love with this door since I first discovered Pinterest. I really want to make it happen this summer and even in this color. 

I'm not rushing Jack growing up at all but I am looking forward to doing this one day for my sweet child. Chalkboard paint inside the lunchbox is just genius! 

Organization is my favorite. Yeah I know, dork! I'm okay with it. I wish we could watch Monica (from Friends) living in a Pinterest world. This site has all the printables you need to create the perfect home management binder and it's all FREE! These are the printables I use for our family binder and have used them for 2 years now. 

You can't have an amazing entree without the perfect side dish. Boy do I have a few for you today. I am always looking for a new way to cook asparagus so this automatically stuck out to me. 

Yummy yummy squash, oh how I've missed you since last summer. This year I decided to mix it up a little and find various ways to cook up those little pieces of heaven. I can't wait to try out this squash casserole. 

Now you need some meat to go with these sides. This chicken recipe is one I've made a few times around these parts.  Chicken is cheap and I love how this recipe fancies up the taste of the chicken with just a few items. 

To follow me on Pinterest click here. 

Who Has Two Thumbs and Forgot Their Anniversary.....This Gal

The girl isn't suppose to be the one who forgets their wedding anniversary, but I did. Luckily for me, he forgot also. 

Monday at 5:50 am, while signing in for my colonoscopy, I had to write the date. As soon as I wrote it, I knew. I turned to Jeremy and whispered "Happy Anniversary". Boy did he look scared. I quickly followed up by saying "It's okay. I forgot too". 

Everything was just so crazy that we both forgot. Oops! 

After my colonoscopy we had a romantic breakfast at The Huddle House and then I went home and got in bed for several hours. My mom brought Jack home around 2 pm so we hung out with him for awhile. Popeye's was our dinner take-out choice. 

There were no flowers, or jewelry, or reservations. No one got dressed up. No one unwrapped a bow. It was us, being us. Just plain and simple us.

A Little Update

This post is brought to you by morphine. Wednesday morning I had to be at the hospital admissions at 5:30 am. Everything went so quickly. I really wished they had given me some chill medicine before they prepped me. You wanna know what isn't fun? A woman shaving your everything and having to make small talk is not my idea of a good time. What made it even worse was how ticklish I am. I couldn't stop laughing and then she started giggling. Then things got ugly when she brought out the tape to get the hair up. Not all the hair that got picked up had been shaved. Oh what a lovely experience! Apparently the shave I had done the night before wasn't sufficient enough for surgery. Woohoo for a dry shave that now makes me want to claw my girl business off. 

Now on to more stories about my lady business. Don't us women love talking about our vajayjays? Makes me feel like I'm in a Sex In The City episode. 

The hernia that was repaired was in my left lower stomach/groin area. While the doc (who by the way is a man) was doing the surgery he decided to cut some nerves to stop future pain in that area. It left my lower stomach, top of my leg, and the top of my vajayjay numb. My previous doctor had discussed this option with me but I didn't want that so I went to another doctor. Now it ended up happening anyways and now there is nothing that can be done to reverse it. It's a peculiar feeling that I just don't care for and one I'm sure will take some getting use to.  

I'm now home and home health is set up to start tomorrow. I see the doctor in 6 days. I've got a nice little green drain attached to me which is yucky to look at. I wish they wouldn't make these clear in the middle. 

Now let's talk drugs. This dude sent me home with the same pills my dentist gave me when I recently had a tooth pulled. A pulled tooth and your stomach cut open c-section style is not the same kind of pain. The sad part is he originally tried to give me something less strong but I said you are going to have to up it some. It's not like I get to bring home those morphine shots. Speaking of those morphine shots, when I asked for mine at 3 pm (when it was due) they said no because I would be going home soon. Hello! That is why I wanted it because the ride home was not fun with no pain medication. Doctors can be so self-absorbed at times. I ended up not even getting released until 5:30 pm. 

I survived it though and I'm so ready to see my little guy. My mom is bringing him over and she is staying the night with me since Jeremy has to work all weekend. Another Father's Day weekend where he'll be working. I won't even be able to drive to his work to visit on Sunday. Kinda sucks but that's life at times. 

List: Summer Vacation

It's that time again. Schools out for summer! While some of you will be drinking umbrella drinks on a beach, I'll be at home trying to accomplish as much as I possibly can while off work. There once was a time when summer meant sleeping in, vacations, drinking before 5 pm, going to the lake, and long nights. This summer I'm a mother to a very energetic monkey baby. I'll try and accomplish as much as possible while keeping Jack from busting his head open. My summer will be a mix of fun and responsibility. My ultimate goal is to spend good quality time with Jack. Without further ado, Mrs. Mama's summer 2014 to do list.

1) Have surgery and recover as quickly as possible.

2) Change my last name. I've been married two years on Monday and I still haven't changed my last name officially. 

3) Re-home our dog Charlie. We don't need any animals in our home. Taking care of Jack is enough as it is and Charlie is high needs. 

4) Organize our bills and work on debt plan.

5) Go to the eye doctor.

6) Get teeth cleaned.

7) Get Jack a small pool for the backyard.

8) Clean out and organize the craft room.

9) Clean out my closet.

10) Wean Jack off the bottle. He currently only has 1 a day which is right before bed. 

11) Get a grill.

12) Paint the den floor.

13) Go on 3 dates with my husband. An added goal is for these dates to be something besides just going out to eat.

14) Do 2 nice things for my mom.

15) Create a canvas art piece with Jack.

16) Take my nephew Bennett and my son Jack to The Wonder Place in Little Rock.

17) Make a habit of waking up at 5:30 each morning. As an introvert, I am fueled by alone time and I just have to have it to keep myself afloat. My days are always so packed that I need to give my alone time some commitment so I am really going to try and use the time before Jack is awake. Hopefully, I will be able to drive my coffee, read some blogs, write out a to do list.

18) Read 3 books. Currently I am reading "Save Me". I'm on page 62 and I love it so far!

19) Go through Jack's toys.

20) Take up our carpet in the bedroom.

Life as of Late

The humidity here in Arkansas is unbearable. You just want to walk around naked so you aren't feeling your clothes glued to you. It's something us Arkansans have just learned to deal with but no matter what my hair is anti-humidity. It's just a hot mess and I'm having to take two showers a day. 

On Monday I am scheduled for a colonoscopy. Fun! Honestly, I'm not all that worried about it since Jeremy and my sister have had one before and they both said there was nothing to it. With that said, I'm still not thrilled, but really who would be? Never mind, do not answer that question. Moving on...

A week from tomorrow I will have surgery on my stomach. The surgery has been planned for quite some time and is finally happening since I have time off work. What a great way to spend summer vacay! I'm full of sarcasm today. 

The rundown of why I am having surgery goes like this: 
1)had a c-section in November 2012 that was botched
2)my stomach tissue became hard and black (it was literally dying)
3)January 2013 had all the dead tissue removed and was put on a wound vac for 6 weeks
4)all was good (except it looking absolutely awful) for several months
5)in November of 2013 I begin having pain in my stomach again and I went from doctor to doctor to doctor looking for answers
6)March 2014 I ended up with a severe stomach virus and ended up in the ER where they did a scan
7)my current doctor got those scan results and discovered that the pain is caused from severe scar tissue build up with a hernia under all that

Whew (wiping my brow)! It's just my journey.

I've been mentally dealing with a personal issue that isn't meant for the internet. I'll just say when you are protecting another's secret and that secret impacts your own life it can weigh on you. I am a person who has to talk her way through things and I can't. I've had to turn to God to talk to. I've been asking for peace and answers.

My house is filled with the wonderful aroma of a roast that has been simmering in the crock pot all day. Those put together roasts in the supermarket are my favorite. All you do is empty the contents into the crock pot and turn it on. 

My child loves to climb. This is not safe! If he is ever being quiet then I know exactly what he is doing. I do not understand how he watches tv that close.

 

Look at that beautiful smile! We are having cookies for lunch. Summer break is awesome already.

I decided to take Jack outside into the humid air to keep him awake. I was cleaning some of his outside toys with the water hose when he walked my way. I sprayed him and at first he was shocked and ran away. He kept coming back and each time he loved it more and more and would stay longer without running away. Here he is all soaked and mushy. 

Tomorrow I head north to visit my BFF Jess on her birthday. These were last minute plans. I'm super excited about our tame afternoon. What is even more exciting is how joyful Jess has been since she learned I was coming up for the night. She is even taking a half-day so we can spend more time together. I always leave her home feeling refreshed and like I should pay her for therapy. 

This weekend I'll be sticking close to home since I can't have anything but liquids (the ones listed on the form) for 48 hours before the colonoscopy and I'll have to take lots of bathroom breaks. I can eat breakfast Saturday morning and then that is it. I'm going to eat something really yummy. 

Well guys, I know I've thrown a bunch at you but that is life as of late in the world of Mrs. Mama.

My BFF's Birthday and How To Be a Great BFF

Jess and her husband Stan

*written in purple because it is Jessica's favorite color

Today is my best friend Jessica's birthday. Although we rarely see each other I feel like I see her all the time. We communicate with our phones via many long talks and lots of texts. She is my go to person when I need to talk about the tough stuff. She is the best listener. I literally could talk to her for hours. Literally, because I have (many times). She is my free therapy. 

We watch some of the same shows and we discuss them at length. We cut the episodes into small pieces and take it ALL in. Big Brother is one of those shows and we actually talk during each commercial. We share the same whit and too often think the exact same things. 

We are also very different. It works though. It works because our differences have nothing to do with what makes our friendship work. 

Jess has the greatest heart of anyone I know. She is loyal. She has empathy. She cares with her whole being. She is the best aunt. She is hilarious. She is very smart. She thinks before she acts. I really could go on and on about her great qualities. I may come off as bias since I am her BFF and all but all of these things are true. The people who know her would back me up. 

Some of my favorite things about her is that she always has my back. If there were a room full of girls and they decided to pick at my life (you know those situations) she would stand up and support me. I would do the same for her. Even if she disagreed with something I did she would still have my back. Any conversation she would have about me with someone else would be of joy or concern and never hurt. I trust her with my secrets and the greatest gift is knowing she can trust me as well. You don't get many people like that in your life. 

We can have the best time just grubbing on some food, watching stupid tv (America's Next Top Model is our show of choice), laughing, and doing lots of talking. 

I feel so lucky that she is my friend. Not many people get a friend like Jess. I don't know what I would do without her. I'm not sure how I got to be so lucky. I'm just thankful that I have a friend like her. 

How to be a best friend:

1) Remember the important things. I'm not talking just their birthday but also the person they can't stand at work. Make jokes about that person like you know them, which you will feel like you do because you will take in the stories about this annoying work person. 

2) Send humorous texts at random that only the two of you will get. Inside jokes build connections.

3) Never talk negatively about that person to anyone else. There might come a time when you disagree with them but never turn to other people. Sometimes it is better to let things go and if it is important enough then talk through it with them.

4) Always keep their secrets and share yours with them.

5) If they call with a problem or a success do not interrupt them to talk about yourself.

6) When they are sharing an issue actually listen to what they say.  Make them feel understood. Relate without making it about you and your life. You don't want them feeling like they are alone.

7) Support them. If the lady at Subway was rude to her then give her the evil eye the next time you are in Subway. If you are not brave enough to actually do an evil eye then think it. Jess always remembers the people who were mean to me. Even if she can't be around to give them the evil eye, she will say "stupid B" when I mention their name. 

8) Check back in. If your BFF calls and tells you about something then check in to see how things are going. You may just need to send a follow up text. 

There you have it. 8 ways to be a great BFF. I wish you all could meet Jessica because she is the greatest and the bestest BFF a gal could ever have.

Currently

Thinking about: How I plan on doing everything I want to do this summer when I am feeling like a lazy bum these days. I like the pinning of things. The execution not so much.

Reading: Jenny McCarthy has written a new book "Stirring the Pot". I love her whit and tell-it-like-it-is way of writing so this was an easy purchase.

Listening to:  I am reconnecting with country music. I went through a phase where I didn't really listen to any music for awhile. Now that I am back on the music bandwagon I am revisiting my country roots. 

Watching: "Playing House" is my new favorite show. So funny! I can't wait to start watching Big Brother in just a few weeks.

Thankful for: I am so thankful for summer break. I don't think I could have made it another day at work. Summer always comes when you have to have it. I am also thankful for a husband who works extra days because we need the money. I'm also thankful for Jack's laughs. They make my heart melt.

Sunshine Award Goes To.....

Tabitha at a hundred tiny wishes nominated me for the Sunshine Award! I love learning about other bloggers and I get to write the questions. Also since I'm a blogger I can't help but love writing about myself so this is perfect. 

Here are the questions Tabitha asked me to answer. I hope you enjoy!

1 | lets's start with something normal: why did you start blogging, and how did your blog get its name?

I started blogging after I became obsessed with reading other blogs about motherhood. I decided to start my own so I could keep myself accountable with all the things I wanted to be as a wife and mother. I was newly married and pregnant so Mrs. Mama just fit. 

2 | do you have any tattoos? if so, tell us about them!

No tats for me. I'm not against them and would like to possibly have one. It would have something to do with my baby Jack. 

3 | do you have any children? any funny stories about how they got their names?

I have one cutie named Jack. My mom has always loved the name Jack. I liked it too since in my 7 years of teaching I had never taught a Jack. I loved that it was traditional yet modern. I have zero connections with a Jack so it was perfect. 

4 | what is your favorite food?

I love it when my mom cooks cornbread, fried potatoes, sliced tomatoes, stir-fried squash, and pinto beans.

5 | what are three beauty things that you couldn't live without?

Tinted lip gloss, eye liner, and my curling iron are my three beauty items.

6 | what is your favorite color?

White is my favorite color even though it isn't technically a color.

7 | name three places that you would love to go, and explain why.

1) NYC, because I would love the culture (for about a few days).

2) Greece, because it is beautiful.

3) Anywhere in Africa, because I would love to say I've been to Africa.

8 | what is your favorite blog post that you've ever written?

Man this is tough! I am going to go with "To My Jack Jack".

9 | what is your favorite memory?

10 | what is something about you that people would be surprised to learn?

I love to sleep on the couch. I always sleep on the couch when Jeremy is at work and sometimes I sneak out of bed and sleep on the couch in the middle of the night. Sleeping in any bed seems to always make my back hurt but the couch is always more comfortable. Most people would disagree. 

11 | name three things on your summer bucket list.

1) Do a painting project with Jack.

2) Read a couple of books.

3) Deep clean my house. 

Things to do

-post 11 random facts about yourself.
-answer 11 questions for the blogger who nominated you.
-nominate 11 bloggers to receive the award.
-write your own 11 questions for them to answer.
-notify them that you have nominated them.

11 Nominees

Tienna @ Halford Party of Three

Ashley @ Afternoons With You

Holly @ Back Home Again

Brittney @ Razorback Britt

Ashley @ Everything Happens for a Reason

Amie @ Lassen & Company

Rachel @ Life as Mrs.

Christine @ Life With a Side of Coffee

Celeste @ Our Fabulous Life in the Suburbs

Christa @ Mom, Paper, Scissors

Whitney @ Polka-Dotty Place

11 Random Facts About Me

1)  I'm pretty sure I'm a Friends expert.

2)  I like to send inappropriate e-cards to friends for laughs.

3)  I hate ranch and when I tell people they act like I just said I hate babies.

4)  Commercials drive me crazy. Thank you DVR!

5)  Honeysuckle is my favorite smell.

6)  I love banana flavored stuff but hate bananas.

7) I have to have alone time in order to refuel.

8) I always forget to take pictures.

9) I hate going to bed with my hair wet.

10) "Playing House" is my new favorite sitcom. Check it out if you aren't already laughing your butt off at its greatness.

11) I love reading books written by celebrities. 

11 Questions to answer

1) Do you have any kids? If so, how did you choose the names? If not, do you already have names picked out?

2) When and where do you normally blog?

3) What is your favorite book?

4) What is the best gift you have ever received?

5) What position do you sleep in?

6) What blog do you read every post they write?

7) If you could only go to one fast food place for the rest of your life where would you go?

8) What is one question you would ask Oprah if you could?

9) If money was not a factor, what is one gift you would buy your significant other?

10) What is one characteristic (not physical) would you change about yourself?

11) What is your favorite thing about your best friend?