Vegas Baby! #8 Go on Girls' Vacation

Vegas Baby!

That's how I refer to my upcoming vacation each and every time I can mention it to anyone that listens. I am for the first time ever going on a trip with a few of the best girlfriends a woman can share my life with. This vacation also the first time I have ever left the kids for an extended time, overnight for Amaya. The fantasy of traveling to Las Vegas for a weekend trip sounded so enticing but as the date drew nearer I realized I wasn't ready to be without the smiles and hugs of Julianna and Amaya. A weekend vacation just wasn't going to happen for me until they leave for college.

Late one night curiosity, and a little bit of midnight restlessness, set in and I looked around for flights to Las Vagas. My option was to leave Friday evening and return Monday morning, oh dear tears started rolling down my face its far too long I think to myself. I find an early flight Saturday morning and earliest return flight on Sunday morning. I send out the message that I will be joining the clan for just one night. I am immediately instructed that Las Vegas cannot be accomplished in just one night. Now what, how in the world can I abandon my children for two whole nights and days. The guilt has taken over and I call my mom for moral support. Well, that didn't help since I get from her that she never left me overnight until I was at least a teenager. But she does encourage me that the girls will be okay and I'll have fun.

Long story short, I find the perfect flight I am most comfortable with that leaves late Friday evening and returns early Sunday morning. My pep talk goes a little like this: I'll only be gone for technically one day and be back just after breakfast on Sunday. Now I might sleep the entire day that I return but at least I'll be able to snuggle with my girls the entire day.

Can't live without them. Kids.

But I'm doing this for me and get to cross off #8 on my Project 622. Accomplished.

Giveaway from Flowerz in Her Hair

Enter this great giveaway from Flowerz in Her Hair at A Little of This and a Little of That

Giveaway ends on July 25, 2010 at 11:59pm EST

I have never been much of a bow person despite I have two girls. But I saw my friend wearing one of Amy's bows from the Heart Collection and fell in love. I told Amy to send me some and she created the most beautiful bows for my girls.

Beautiful bows made from the heart.

Get your own for yourself or little girls.

#16 Got credit score

I requested the dreaded credit report. The one that you are supposed to check every year. Well I've never check my credit report as recommended, because much like the medical business philosophy, "no news is good news". If I ignored it then I wouldn't have to be honest with myself, personally I like to avoid problems that I can't solve.

Quite the accomplishment for me, face my problems and be patient. I am all about solving problems and getting it done immediately. Improving credit score (#17) will have to take time but at least I know now where my starting line is. That starting line is fair and certainly not as bad as I thought.

So now I have to take the steps to get to the perfect 800. I will make a promise for my children to have better credit rating than they do so I can be a co-signer if necessary for those, ugh, college loans.

Hello 30's

My birthday has come, and now I have to admit I am 30 years old. What in the world happen to my youth? Why did time move so fast? I still remember the conversation I had with my mom when I was 8 years old that she was going to be "old" soon as her 30thbirthday was fast approaching.

Now my time has come and I am "old" just as my 8-year old self believed.

Despite all my fears and apprehension regarding my new decade, I have promised myself that 30's would be just as fabulous and adventurous as my 20's. In my 20's I attended school in North Carolina, traveled the western hemishpere, graduated from college, given two of the best daughters, and lived every moment celebrating the good times and great health. Now 30's you have a lot to live up to.

Happy Birthday to me!

Airplane Travel

Some of you might know that I was anxious beyond normal for the upcoming flight across the country to Atlanta. I was flying by myself with a 3 year old, 11 month old walker, double stroller, carry-on suitcase, diaper bag, and purse. Well, I survived a plane trip across the country with me and the kids. Here is how I made it and didn't lose my mind (or a kid) along the way.

• Prepare carry-on luggage for security checkpoint - I put all the snacks and baby food in a ziploc bag to put on belt alone to disclose
  
• Bring DVD movie player, crayons, paper, and toddler friendly books
• Pick a layover length that allows for time to eat and find a kid friendly play area
• Stroller and ErgoBaby carrier --- I was able to get baby to sleep in ErgoBaby to leave me handsfree and relaxed while on the plane and use the stroller as an extra set of hands for me
  
• Most important --- small lollipops for airplane descent when cabin pressure changes the most

Now wish me patience for the trip back home next week. Or leave me your tips and lessons learned.

Little Miss is turning 1, soon

Ahh!! What happened to the super organized and prepared mother of one? That's right there is two and lately just flying by on the seat of my pants.

First time mom is prepared 3 months in advance for the first birthday. I constructed handmade invitations, had a party itinerary, theme, decorations, invite list, activities for guests of all ages well in advance. But that mom of two is thinking "oh crap its around the corner" and I don't even know what day to have the party.

I am so lucky that Little Miss will only remember she is loved no matter what the party theme is. In reality, I have no clue what my 1st birthday was like or if I even had a party but I was first born therefore it must have been fabulous.

Who is for putting a party hat on Little Miss placing a cupcake in front of her and taking a picture? I promise to at least sing Happy Birthday.

Fingers can't get sick

My 3 year old gets a cut on her finger and I put a bandage on it. Later on that day as we are in the car riding to the store she tells me that her finger feels better and wants to take the bandage off. I explain to her that she has an open cut on her finger so to keep her bandage on. She says huh. I attempt to explain in preschool terms and it goes:

Me: I want you to keep your bandage on so your finger doesn't get sick.

J: What?!? My finger can't get sick, it doesn't have a mouth.

Me: But germs can enter through your cut and make your finger sick.

J: Huh?!? That doesn't make any sense.

I still haven't figured out how to explain to a 3 year old how a bandage protects cuts from getting infected.

Luckily this one didn't get "sick" :)