I don't write on my blog but I'll write on yours!

Oh, hey. It's been a while, I know. It's like we see each other in the grocery store and it's been so long since we've spoke that we're not sure if should say "hi" so we just awkwardly ignore each other's existence.

I've thought of blogging several times but the usual array of excuses have got in the way. I won't bore you.

Right now I'm in the haze of my last couple weeks of school - FOREVER. I'm graduating UF with my BSBA and it's been a long time coming. Therefore, you may not hear from me again until after G-day...

While I've been lazy on my blog I've kept busy on Instagram. I started documenting my daughter's school/daycare lunches and Brandy from Mannlymama fame asked if I'd like to guest post on her blog. I jumped at the chance since I had the opportunity to potentially help other moms and receive ideas in return.

Guest posting for Brandy was a lot of fun and the blogging bug is back in my system. I encourage you to check out my post on Mannlymama and also check out her other features under Toddler Dinners for great meal ideas while you're there!

Making the Treadmill a Little Less Ho-Hum

My race bibs & such face me for added inspiration

I've always had music videos or movies playing on our computer while I run on the treadmill but that was with them on mute while I had my iPhone playing on my earbuds since I run after my daughter goes to bed and blasting anything is not an option. That all changed with the purchase of our iPad. Now I scan MTV.com and watch random music videos to keep me occupied during an otherwise boring run. I wish I knew of a site that allowed you to make music video playlists (without purchasing them), and it's honestly not something I've looked into but this works for me, for now.

Tonight's entertainment included:

B.o.B. feat. Lil Wayne "Strange Clouds" - I feel I have to clarify that I have never used narcotics in my life and I don't find their use amusing. I do however, like the beat of this song. I actually didn't watch the video since I was just beginning to warm up and I was focusing on my posture but I'm pretty sure it runs along the same lines of any other rap video.

Katy Perry "The One That Got Away" - *girl crush alert* my goodness do I find her gorgeous in this music video?! Also, I thought the video was stunning and I love the Johnny Cash playing at the end. Perfect.

Beyonce "Countdown" - this song wouldn't normally set my running vibe in motion but the video is super cute and unique, it's very fast-paced and kitschy. 

Katy Perry feat. Kanye West "E.T." - an oldie and I don't care for the video as much as I do the song [for running].

Paramore "Misery Business" - another girl crush: Hayley Williams. The girl is so pretty to look at and her energy is magnetic. My husband teases me about how I went to their concert back in '08 and still claim it as one of the best I've been to. Oh yeah, and I definitely thrash my head around at the hook, even while I run.

I got hung up on Paramore and watched a few of their unplugged videos as a cool down. Hayley has one of my favorite voices, right up there with Adele.

I'm so anxious for winter solstice to come and pass so there is more opportunity for me to run outdoors but I am very thankful to have the option of my treadmill in the meantime. 

Less of a Cray Cray

I'm stressed as much as any other mom trying to hold herself together during this tumultuous time of the year. I'm on vacation this week and I'm still having a hard time relaxing! You see, I have BIG PLANS for 2012 and that means I'm making lists, OH THE LISTS! One of my plans is to keep my cool a little more in check. Some who know me may not think I've been un-cool but that's because I internalize a lot. So much that I feel like I'm meeeeealting. Organization is lacking in my life and thus; I feel all spinny and like I'm flying by my ass and not in control. I've been forgetful and tired a lot more than I should be this year and I blame most of it on poor planning on my part.

So, without further adieu, I give you my list of things to incorporate more into my 2012 schedule in order to keep me more sane-feeling:

1. Yoga: this sounds all mother-earth, granola but the stretching and breathing really help me focus on my body and what it is capable of instead of all the things around me that I have no control over.

2. Running: I guess I can include working out in general due to the endorphins released automatically and naturally altering your mood, but running makes me feel strong and powerful and I know I can do great things, I know I can go further and longer and faster if I keep it up (I am woman, hear me roar - ish like that).

3. Burning Hot Baths: I grew up taking baths; therefore I grew up using it as a mechanism for winding down and getting ready for bed. Nowadays baths are fewer to come by but I still love them all the same. I don't do any fancy bath salts or a candle; my only requirement is the hottest water I can tolerate. In the heat of the water I can feel my muscles relax and the day just melt away.

4. Get a Planner and Use It: I always buy a planner each year with great intentions of mapping out each day and I do well for a while until I miss too many homework goals or workout goals and it just gets too overwhelming to erase it all and start over again. So, planners usually get jammed under the seats in my car with other toddler accessories to never see the light of day until I muster up the energy to take inventory of the floorboard nonsense.

5. Maintain a Clean House: it is hard to add house chores to schedules that are chalk-full of work, school, and raising a child. Everyone knows that if you go ONE DAY without cleaning, your whole house can turn into [what feels like] a HAZMAT zone. If my house is chaotic, I feel chaotic. I cannot relax with a mess around me. Yes, I can sit but I am not relaxing, instead I am freaking out about the war zone my kitchen has become and I am itching to get up and fix it.

6. Sit Down With a Cup of Coffee and ENJOY IT: This goes in hand with #5. I'm usually trying to get everything that I could not get done during the week done on the weekends and my Sunday morning coffee ends up getting chugged while I map out a grocery list and chuck the dishes in the dishwasher.

This is an ongoing list of a few things that help me be less of a crazy person, I'm sure there are more to be added as 2011 draws to a close.

Tell me what helps you to relax; I'd love to compare notes.

{Wordless Wednesday}

Last day of work until Thanksgiving and Black Friday craziness - LET'S DO IT!

Giveaway Winner

I used random.org to choose the winner of my MOLO Designs giveaway, and the lucky lady is:

Brandy!

Send me your email and I'll get you hooked up with Beth for your free holiday card design. Congratulations to B and a big THANK YOU for those who participated and helped spread the word about this giveaway! I had fun hosting this event and I hope to provide my readers with more in the future.

XOXO

Stacey

My A,B,C's

I straight-up stole this from one of my favorite people in zee world: Morgan. This is fun, it’s like those blurbs celebrities fill out in Cosmo. I always liked those…

A. Age: As Daniel Tosh says, I’m on the wrong side of 25 (I’ll be 26 in February).

B. Bed size: King and we sleep with separate covers. Cover-stealing problem solved, people!

C. Chore that you hate: Cleaning the toilets, obvs.

D. Dogs: We have two dogs; Xena is 8 and she’s a German shepherd mix and Bradley is 4 and he’s a Pomeranian. I hated having dogs when Laila was a baby because as she was crawling on the floor I was made very aware of how often I should be vacuuming. Now? Their fur is a pain but they are an important part of our family. We will always have a big dog and I’m really fond of having a little lap dog.

E. Essential start to your day: Washing my hair, I feel like I can conquer the world with clean hair.

F. Favorite color: MUSTARD YELLOW! Ugh, I love just saying it because I get an image of it in my head and I’m instantly happy!

G. Gold or Silver: Silver – or white gold.

H. Height: 5’[almost] 9″

I. Instruments you play: Straightening iron & curling iron. I’m not musical but I have relationships with the music I listen to.

J. Job title: Customer Service Extraordinaire a.k.a. the person who gets screamed at over policies and procedures that I clearly made up JUST to piss you off. Oh, but I will make you smile before you leave my office!!!

K. Kids: Laila, Monster, Goober, Bun, Bunny Roo (all one child).

L. Live: FL born and raised. I told my husband I want to move somewhere interesting, he asked what I meant, I said anywhere but here. A change of scenery would be nice!

M. Mother’s name: Gaela Jean

N. Nicknames: My dad called me Bumpkin when I was little. My husband calls me Babs or Little Miss. Some of my best friends call me Stacers, Roo, or just plain Stace.

O. Overnight hospital stays: Once when my sister broke her arm when she dove off a couch at our aunt’s house and once when I had Laila.

P. Pet peeves: There are so many… People who don’t teach their child manners so their kid is a jerk to mine on the playground. People who put leashes on their kids. Oh, and bloggers and/or YouTube people who give the vibe that they think they’re famous and too good to communicate with little people.

Q. Quote from a movie: “Take that vest off, you look like Aladdin.” –Superbad. This isn’t my favorite of all time but we saw this movie three times in the theater because it made us laugh so hard. I’m not one to remember quotes, just how a movie made me feel.

R. Right or left handed: Right.

S. Siblings: A brother who is 21 and a sister who is 19.

U. Underwear: Whatever doesn’t cut into my hips, cuz mama got back.

V. Vegetable you hate: CILANTRO! Gah! If butt tastes like anything, I imagine it tastes like cilantro.

W. What makes you run late: Making sure I have all of my daughter’s accoutrements in tow.

X. X-Rays you’ve had: Besides my teeth? My knees. I had really bad knees growing up and there were a couple times when I dislocated them that I had to get them imaged to see if I tore ligaments. I never did have anything torn but moving my crazy-weak, crazy-sore knee around in odd angles was a blast!

Y. Yummy food that you make: Beer-battered shrimp/fish, and ceviche is my newest obsession.

Z. Zoo animal: Penguins. I like watching them waddle on land and then glide so gracefully in the water.

A Pinterest Rant of Sorts

I wrote this upon seeing a picture of a girl who clearly has an eating disorder pinned on Pinterest. I didn't have to click on it to know why it exists. There are sick girls out there who look at these images as motivation and nothing makes me more sad. Soon after seeing that picture (several times) I saw a picture of Emma Stone, which I pinned as well (because I adore her), but I changed the caption that previously read: could I just be you, please.

This subject of confidence pains me so much. I've come a long way from the obese child that I was and I still have days when I don't feel great about myself, I think we all do. I pray to God that I can instill confidence and strength in my daughter. It scares me to death to think that she may be so insecure that she wants to be someone else or resorts to an unhealthy lifestyle.