WWTK

Mamarazzi is asking the questions for WWTK this week...

{1}What is your biggest guilty pleasure?
Guilty pleasure...that term just makes me feel ridden with guilt!  There are several things I enjoy that I know aren't the best choices for me.  #1- chocolate and Diet Coke!  I realize my dietary needs would be much better met with an apple and glass of water.  But sometimes, you just need that sweet/fizzy combination!  #2- a funny TV show in a quiet house.  I love to flip on the television when the kids are asleep.  #3- Blogger.  Oh, don't judge...you all are doing it too!!! 

{2}What is the ONE thing you're never too busy for?
Boy, that's a really tough question to answer.  It seems like I'm too busy for a lot of things these days.  Often, I'm too busy to give my husband and kids the time they deserve.  I certainly don't give my house cleaning the time it deserves.  Sometimes, I'm even too busy to eat a meal, and I love eating good food!  I guess the only honest answer I can give is Church.  I am a faithful member to my church and never skip a service simply because I don't feel like going.  I miss services if I'm sick or out of town, but I never just play hooky. 

{3}They say love is in the little things. What is a little thing someone does to show you love?
With the way things are going right now, I'm going to say that I'm touched when someone in my home just puts their dishes in the dishwasher or puts their shoes away.  Most days, that's all I ask for.  Of course, there are extra special things.  Big Sis loves to draw me pictures and write me notes saying she loves me.  I adore that.  Hubby will rub my shoulders when he knows I've had a particularly stressful day and even rubs my feet when the going gets really tough!  Son #2 still hands out hugs that make me feel so happy.  Son #1 makes me feel loved when he is willing to sit down and talk to me about his life.  I can't act too interested though or I'll scare him away.  Baby Girl hands out hugs and kisses all day long and always makes me feel loved.  I have a super awesome family!

{4}What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
Filling out team relay forms for our upcoming marathon.  15 friends and I are all running together and I'm organizing all the teams.  I love that day and how blessed I feel to have great, active friends.  Afterward, we all complain together about how sore, exhausted, and tired we are! 

{5}If you could be on any game show what would it be?
The kids used to watch a show called Family Game Night that I would totally rock at.  I'm not sure if it's still on or not.  I would be horrible at Fear Factor or The Amazing Race.  I would need to be on some type of word game, even though I'm not sure any of those exist any more.  I guess Wheel of Fortune is still around, but I'm sure I'd get clobbered. If anyone hears of a Hanging With Friends game show, please let me know.  Actually, Family Feud would be a total blast with my Fam!

If you want to join in and play We Want to Know, visit Mamarazzi or Crazymama!  We always have a lot of fun!

The Food Thief

Help- we have a serious addiction in our home. My 3-year old is addicted to junk food. I'm to the point where I really don't know what to do with it.

It's too late to start placing blame. (Well, her dad totally spoils her and lets her have almost anything she wants...but you didn't  hear that from me.) Sometimes I feel like she's broken and unfixable.

We are far from an organic home that considers homemade applesauce to be dessert. Yet, I try to make sure my kids aren't out of control with snacks. For example, school lunches consist of a sandwich, piece of fruit, snack, and juice. A snack usually consists of 2 Oreos, an appropriately sized baggie of chips, or package of gummies. I feel like I've done pretty well so far. My boys have just recently started drinking caffeine and sodas are only consumed in moderation. Everyone is happy.

Then came The Junk Food Baby. She's been obsessed from a very early age. She wouldn't eat baby food of any kind, even fruit. Table food didn't go over well either. Her diet consisted of mostly milk for the longest time. Getting her to eat anything at all was a huge chore. Maybe that's how we got into this situation in the first place. When a toddler hasn't had a morsel of food in a full day, you're happy for her to take a bite of a muffin.

Now that she's 3, she can reason. She knows that junk food may only be consumed in moderation so she's taken to stealing food. She climbs up on counters, opens cupboards, and takes what she wants. I've found packages and remnants of food in her room, in the basement, and under the couch. We've moved the snack cupboard to a less accessible place, but that didn't stop her.

If her older siblings receive candy as a gift, at Halloween, or for any other reason, she steals it. They've yet to discover a hiding place she can't uncover. She'll get in their dresser drawers or in boxes on their bookshelves. This behavior is starting to seriously concern me.

Yesterday, I was enjoying my Sunday afternoon nap, thinking she was asleep also. Instead, she quietly took an extra- large iced sugar cookie from a bake sale and ate the entire thing. If I ate a cookie that size, I would feel ill. And I love sugar! When I was putting her to bed that night, I found her brother's identical cookie, half eaten, in her bed. When he finds out she ate his cookie, he is going to be irate.

I've tried limiting the amount of snacks I buy, but I don't see any reason to punish the rest of the family. Everyone else understands the meaning of moderation. Plus, I feel like if I totally forbid something, it will be desired so much more.

Something needs to be done. Quickly. With my basement stockpile of groceries, I always have snacks nearby. She has figured out how to open most packages. I'm afraid she's going to hurt herself climbing a shelf or using scissors.

I'm considering purchasing some sort of box that locks. I could share the combination with the other family members. She's too young to understand a combination lock anyway.

Any other suggestions out there? I'm tired of scolding her for stealing junk food. I've tried explaining and reasoning with her and have even spanked her. Nothing works. This time, I even tried something new and took away something she loves. That just breaks my heart though. I would rather spank her than "ground" her at this young of an age.

Until then, just consider me heartbroken, consumed with guilt, worried, and just plain frustrated. I need to get that little girl eating better before it's too late. I just love her way too much!

P.S. something I just thought to add- she's an extremely healthy kid who rarely gets sick, is very active, never listless, and pretty skinny.

Stealing for the Good of Humanity

I am doing something on this blog today that I don't think I've ever done before.  I am totally stealing.  I stumbled upon Bon's post today entitled 21 Rules for using the Internet. You MUST obey these.  You see, I too am a person who is way too judgemental about the way others behave on social media.  Because of that, I thought this list was totally hilarious and wanted to share it on my blog too!  I'm too chicken to say a few of these things myself, but that doesn't mean I don't agree with them! 

By the way, Bon writes a very humorous blog called Life of Bon.  Stop by and say hi some time.  Here we go...21 Rules for using the Internet, courtesy of Bon.

1. When using facebook it is not okay to:
a. Leave a status like "Wow. I can not believe that just happened. I'm so bummed." We all know this as a simple CRY FOR ATTENTION. If you need attention call your mom, call your boyfriend, call your besties, but don't just throw it out there for 500+ "friends" hoping someone catches the bait. There is always some kind soul who replied, "Oh dearie, I'm so sorry, what happened?" and then all of us have to be eyewitnesses to the awkward fb conversation about how your boss chewed you out yada, yada, yada.

b. Write incessant love messages on the wall of your significant other. That is what text messages are for. The general population does not want to hear your pet names, your countless "I love yous" nor do we care that Brad is "The best guy that ever existed!!!! I'm so lucky I found him!!! There is seriously no guy like him in the world!!!" We all think that about our husbands, honey. That's why we married them.

c. Have a facebook account for two people. It's called facebook not facesbook. We're all happy you found your soulmate and that you have so much in common, but let's not forget that we all have our own separate identities and that uniqueness should be celebrated. There's no use to get a joint account and confuse the crap out of all of us.

d. Like your own statuses. Nuff said.

2. If you are a mother/aunt/grandmother/of the older generation and using facebook it is not okay to:
- Leave countless comments on your child's facebook wall. You can be their "friend", that's all swell and dandy, but stop tagging them in photos, stop telling them they're beautiful online, and stop asking about all their other friends. It's time to officially cut that umbilical cord, lady, and the first step is facebook!

3. Moustaches are strictly prohibited from the Internet. No one is allowed to post pictures with fake moustaches, use the ubiquitous "I moustache you a question" or wear moustache paraphernalia. It's not cute, and as I am the Internet chief of police here, I am really going to come down hard on this one.

4. This one might hurt some of your feelings, but I feel like it needs to be addressed, and I'm going to try to be gentle. What is with the word "Amazeballs"? I have never heard anyone say this in real life, and I'm pretty sure if they did I would just give them a weird look and walk away. This word has been practically taking over the blogosphere. I don't care if one or two bloggers say something kind of weird, but when everybody starts doing it I get confused. Who made up this word? Where did it come from? Is it supposed to be a dirty slang word? Please explain and then please stop using this. And please still love me because I don't like this word.

5. On the Internet, you are not allowed to write in white with a black background. You are also not allowed to write in neon colors. People! MY EYES! MY EYES! PLEASE HAVE MERCY ON MY EYES!

6. You may talk about your dog or your cat or other pet but it has a very short time limit. Us Internet mortals can only tolerate so much gushing about an animal that we will never meet nor care to. 20% of what you say online can be about your pet. I hate to say it, but their is a similar rule for your kids. You must talk about something besides your children to ensure us that you have your own personality outside of your children. Roughly 60% of what you say online can be about your kids. Same goes for your husband. Please refer to item 1c.

6. If you do not like somebody's blog, don't return to it. Simple as that. When I don't like a pizza place, I don't go back, when I don't like a store I don't go back, and when I don't like the 7 foot hairy man who gives me a painful massage, I don't go back. Same with the Internet. There is no reason to post negative comments on the blog, facebook page, forum, etc. No need to call people liars or insult them by likening them to "bean paste" (Yes this was a real comment I received on this article.) Just go to a different site. No harm no foul. For more information on how humans must learn to be nice all the time, even on the Internet you can read up here.

8. You are not allowed to take pictures of your food and post them all over your instagram, twitter and facebook accounts. It's food. We all eat it every day. If it is special, delicious food like Crab legs then it is okay to post it once. If you post food pictures more than once a week, you will receive a citation from the Internet police.

9. Boys: You are allowed up to six pictures with your shirt off on your facebook account/ Instagram accounts. Any more than that and we will all see you for what you really are: a narcissistic pig and you will be disallowed further Internet use.

10. Girls: You are allowed no pictures with your shirt off. I'm sorry, but that's just the way it goes.

11. Human population: You are allowed only up to three pictures that you have taken of yourself with your arm stretched out and smiling in front of the camera. More than that and we'll punch that narcissist stamp on you and throw you right out of the Internet.

12. No one is allowed to "spoil" a movie, book, or television series without first putting the words "Spoiler Alert." Once those words are in place, you can say anything you want but ONLY if and when those word are in place. Otherwise, we will stone you.

13. If there has been something massive and nationwide on television like the super bowl, the Olympics, or the bachelorette finale, you do not have to write "spoiler alert." We will all assume that if people cared they would have watched it or else avoided the Internet until they have done so. These people are not allowed to get mad at people for "spoiling" it for them by saying "I'm so glad the Cowboys won!" the day after the Superbowl. I'm sorry, but some things you just have to be responsible for watching on your own or else face the reality that it will be spoiled for you.

14. There are to be no word verifications ever again. EVER. If you are caught with a blog or website that has a word verification, you will be kicked off the Internet for ONE YEAR and your site will be deleted. The two spam comments that you get a week are not enough of an inconvience to justify you making EVERY SINGLE PERSON that comments fill out a word verification. I feel very strongly about this one. Don't test me!

15. No talking about your poo on the Internet. I don't care if it's a joke you're playing on your roommate because he left his facebook open on your computer. It's nasty.

16. You are allowed only one emoticon per post/status/tweet. (The same applies to text messages.) I think we all know that it's just creepy when we read a post like this: A pretty good day all things considered! :) I got roses :) And an A on my test :) The only thing bad is I broke my arm :( But it's all good because now I don't have to go to school for a week :) :) :) :) :)

17. You are never ever ever ever ever EVER allowed to type like this:

I lOvE iT wHeN mY LeTtErS ArE aLl DiFfFeReNt SiZeS bEcAuSe It MaKeS iT sO hArD fOr EvErYoNe tO rEaD aNd I jUsT kNoW iT hUrTs ThEiR eYeS aNd kNoWiNg OtHeR pEoPlE aRe In PaIn TrUlY BrInGs mE jOy!!!!!!!!!

18. You must use explanation marks in moderation. There is no set rule, you just need to know that if you use too many like "Oh my gosh girl! You are hilarious!!!! I freaking love you!! Let's go to the mall!!!!" that your Internet privileges will be revoked for an undetermined amout of time. Use your judgment on this one. Please.

19. I'm sorry, but you are not allowed to complain about your marriage or your boyfriend or your irresponsible mother on the Internet. If you have relationship issues in your life, I suggest talking to that person or taking it up with a professional. AKA a counsellor. Airing your grievances out facebook style is not the way to go.

20. We only care what you wore if it's actually cute. I know it's hard to hear, but if you don't regularly get real life compliments on your outfits, you probably shouldn't start posting them for the whole world to see.

21. We will forgive the occasional misspelling of their/there/they're or too/two or you/your/you're, BUT if you are doing this regularly we are all going to think you're dumb. This is elementary spelling and I know for a fact that there are teachers out there who work very hard to drum this into the brains of our youth. If you mess up on a simple rule like this more than three times, you must come to five 90 minute sessions of my Language Arts class before you are allowed to use the Internet again. The class costs $100 per session.

She's thoughts: 

• I don't necessarily agree with #3 because moustaches have never bothered me.  I don't have a problem there. 
• Also, I can't say I've ever noticed the use of the word "amazeballs."  But like Bon, I don't really care for the word anyway. 
• I do violate rule #8, but not excessively.  I usually only take photos of the food I make if I'm posting a recipe to go along with it.
• I do tend to overuse exclamation marks, but only if I'm really intent on exclaiming something!!!
• The other points, I wholeheartedly agree with.  What are your thoughts?

WWTK - The Olympics

Crazymama is asking the questions this week!!

It's the Olympics in London!  Let's talk about it.

(1) What was your favorite part of the Opening Ceremonies?

Sadly, I didn't get to see even a minute of the Opening Ceremonies.  I was on a hot school bus, taking my youth group to an event where they performed dramatic sign language.  I was tired, hungry, and possibly a little grouchy that I forgot to DVR it.  But I saw the updates of Facebook friends while we were travelling.  (That didn't help the situation, by the way.)

(2) Which country are you rooting for? (I realize we aren't all Americans.)

 

It's all red, white, and blue here in the Midwest US.

 

(3) Which is your favorite event to watch and why?

I really enjoy gymnastics.  Floor exercise is probably my favorite because it demonstrates the fantastic ability all those tiny, little girls posses.  I even enjoyed the men's gymnastics this year.  Wow, are those guys strong!  I could live without the little leg kick they give at the end of a tumble though.

(4) Have you found a new sport that is surprisingly delightful?

Actually, yes!  I don't recall ever watching water polo before, but it's been on several times this year when I've turned on the TV.  It amazes me that those people can be in the pool that long without ever touching the bottom!  I would drown in the first two minutes. 

(5) Have you always been a fan of the Olympics?  What is your earliest Olympic Memory?

Yes and no.  I've always appreciated it, but haven't always watched it.  I'm going to show my age here when I say that I totally remember the '84 Olympics.  Gymnastics was big that year and I remember doing a bit of tumbling around my living room with couch cushions askew. 

 

 

If you'd like to link up with your answers, visit Mamarazzi or Crazymama!

Soapbox Time

For the next few minutes, I'll be getting up on my soapbox to share my opinion.  If you choose to skip this post, I promise not to have any hard feelings. 

Today is August 1, "Chick-Fil-A Day" to some.  Personally, I'll be glad when this day is over because I'm quite tired of the hype associated with it.  I'm worried that there may be protests, fights, and possible injuries because of this day.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, let's recap.  The owners of Chick-Fil-A have expressed their position on gay marriage.  People are irate about it.  Why?  Do you honestly think that every business owner you patronize shares your same belief system?  If you do, you're the most naive person I've ever heard of. 

We all have opinions.  They vary.  That's what makes the world go round.  I personally think that chocolate is the best flavor of ice cream.  If you're a vanilla kind of person, we can still be friends.  (Now, those strawberry people have no place with us!  Just kidding.)

Individual people and entire cities have declared a boycott of Chick-Fil-A for its opinions.  I'm sorry, but I see that as a double standard.  You're judging someone based on their strong beliefs, yet you're doing the exact same thing by protesting based on your strong beliefs. 

The folks up in arms are acting like the restaurant chain has refused service to gay couples.  That never happened.  In fact, they haven't conducted business any differently recently.  All they did was state their opinion when asked.

One comment I saw from a lovely demonstrator said that it's the same thing as refusing service to black couples.  Really?  I don't see how that's the same.  No one has been refused service at any point. 

Again, I will go back to the point that major business owners are going to have strong opinions that are likely going to differ from yours.   The CEO of Ford is either for or against abortion.  The owner of McDonald's is either Republican or Democrat.  The people in charge over at Starbuck's, Old Navy, and NBC have opinions on welfare, health care, and education.  If you want to take the time to research all their beliefs before you decide whether or not to patronize them, you are going to be one busy dude. 

If you've noticed, I haven't shared my opinion regarding gay marriage.  I simply addressed the hype associated with the Chick-Fil-A events.  Although, if you've read my blog for long, you probably won't have a hard time figuring out what side of the fence I'm on and I'm not ashamed about that.

Enjoy your waffle fries today.