Why Do You Blog?

I've always kept my little corner of the interwebs private from my family for the most part. It's not that I care if they read what I'm writing, it's just that I knew that wouldn't get it. They wouldn't understand the urge I get to put the words in my head out into the world. It would be a completely foreign concept to them.
My little blog was brought up in a conversation with a relative and she reacted the exact way I thought she would. "You blog? Why? What's the point of it?" And I found myself wondering what was the point of it.
I realized today that I've been blogging for over three years now. If you've followed along from the beginning, you know that I blogged for a long time, and then ended up deleting everything I'd written and took a bit of a break. Looking back, I regret deleting everything. Those posts had chronicled my pregnancy, and now I don't have them to look back on. But, the past is the past, and there isn't anything I can do about it. I started blogging again after M was born because I missed it so very much. But, over the last two years, I've forgotten the reason that I had started blogging in the first place. To empty thoughts out of my head, to be able to look back and have my life chronicled, and to make a connection with people. Then, when I came across this the other day:

it was like a kick in the teeth. I suddenly remembered why I had started blogging. It wasn't about the numbers, it wasn't about the free swag (although I do love it!), it was simply about writing just to write. When I redesigned my blog a few months ago, I wanted it to reflect who I was, so you can imagine my delight when I saw that in the manifesto. At least I was headed in the right direction! 

I want to get back to blogging just to blog. Just to empty my thoughts and to chronicle my life. Mind you, that doesn't mean a review of something won't show up here or there, and I'll definitely still do giveaways every now and then, I just don't want to do this sugar coated blogging anymore. I want to make a connection with y'all, and I want to do some good with my blog. 

So, I hope that y'all stick around for this. I'm going to try my best to stick to this manifesto. I definitely don't want to go back to "sugar coated blogging"! I can't promise I'll write everyday, simply because there are some days where M and I do nothing but lounge in our pajamas (or, as M calls them, "ya-yas") and watch Yo Gabba Gabba, but on the days where we actually do something, or I've got something of substance to blog about, I'll write. And obviously there will be some days where I just post adorable photos or videos of M, because, let's be honest, the girl is too fabulous not to have her mug posted all over this place!

Happy Tuesday, folks. 

Daycare Cuties

It breaks my heart to admit this, but my sweet baby girl has a.... boyfriend.

They are in the same class at daycare and are absolutely crazy about each other. They're stuck like glue whenever she's at school, and when she isn't with him, she's talking about him. So, even though I hate it, I knew I had to do something cute for Valentine's Day, so you can imagine my delight when I got an email from Tiny Prints about their Valentine's cards. Let me tell y'all, these things are adorable. Now, I saw this a few weeks ago, I immediately loved the idea, so when I saw this print, 

 I knew it was the card we needed to hand out along with the "bear hugs" to M's class and her little sweetie. But, Tiny Prints has many other designs to choose from, and their prices are extremely reasonable. Plus, you can find them on Twitter, Facebook, and even Pinterest! So if you're in the need for any Valentine Cards or any Valentines Day Greeting Cards, or really any kind of card, be sure and check them out!   *Obviously, this is a Tiny Prints sponsored post, and I'm receiving 50 free classroom Valentine's cards in exchange for my post. But, I should also tell you that these opinons are strictly mine, and I've worked with Tiny Prints before and loved them, so why wouldn't I order M's Valentine's cards from them!?

I Love Rednecks

Wait, wait, wait, let me explain, m'kay?

All of you know that I'm from Texas. My roots are purely southern, and I'm damn proud of it. I drink sweet tea and talk with a touch of twang and a dash of drawl. However, just because I talk slower than say, a New Yorker, doesn't make me stupid. And I'm not a redneck. But, boy, do I love the rednecks.

Now, here's the thing, being a redneck, in my opinion, has nothing to do with where you're from, it has to do with your upbringing and your lifestyle. I fully believe there are rednecks living in Ohio. And last I checked, Ohio wasn't a southern state.

Anyhillbilly, last Saturday CMT premiered a show called Bayou Billionaires. And it's pure, redneck gold. I'm so in love.

Here's the story line, this family from Shreveport is gas rich. That's kinda like oil rich, but with a gas well. Duh. There's a husband and wife, and they have four kids who are all married and have kids themselves. So, after hitting the natural gas money pot, they did what any true American would do, they went and bought stuff. A bunch of stuff. Vehicles, a pool, a hot tub, horses, and one even got new teeth. Yes, new teeth. And she *loves* her new teeth. And yet, despite being filthy rich, a couple of the kids still live in 1987 model trailers. That's a mobile home for all you folk who don't speak redneck. They just don't want to forget where they came from. Or, so I would imagine, because that's the only reason I could think of as to why you'd stay in an old trailer when you could afford a new house. Or at least a new trailer.

So if, by chance, you find yourself at home on Saturday night, and there's nothing to watch around 8pm CST, flip on over to CMT and check out this family. Just don't blame me when you start talking with an accent and putting creole seasoning on everything.

When Did This Happen!?

Y'all?

My kid is two.

I'm not sure how it happened so quickly, but suddenly, my baby isn't a baby anymore. She's a full fledged kid. It seems like just yesterday that we were welcoming her into this world. How could it have gone by so quickly!? I now have an opinionated, independent toddler living in my house. She wants to pick out her own clothes, she wants to give kisses when she wants to, and she has no problem giving me the silent treatment when I tell her that she absolutely cannot have leftover birthday cake for breakfast.

I look at her and see that she's growing up right before my eyes, and I don't even realize it until it's nearly too late. My heart swells with pride, but breaks at the same time every time she learns something new. Parenthood is going to be the death of me. "J passed away this morning at 8:45 am. Cause of death was a broken heart brought on by a child who grew too fast."

Don't look at me like that, I am not being over dramatic.

Anywhoodles, I just thought I'd drop in and share some of the photos from her Rhinestone Cowgirl birthday we had last Saturday. Thankfully, I only cried once during the entire party. Go me!

M and her favorite cousin, Cade

Blowing out the candle



M and her two favorite cousins, Cade and Reese

See? I told you she's a stinker. 

Pawpaw and M

Rocking her pettiskirt and pistol boots

"WANTED: For crimes of cuteness and random bouts of sass"

Her party wreath

This one kills me.

And now you know my child's name is Mylee. Don't tell anyone, m'kay? We like to keep our secret identities.

Overall, the party was a huge success. There were a few other things that I would have liked to have finished, but no one missed them.

And I'm already planning next year's party. But if someone could figure out how to make her stop growing, we'll cancel those plans and just freeze her in time.



 *I'd like to thank my friend, Misti, for the amazing photos of the party! She does all of our photos, and having her there to shoot the party made it so much easier on me!!

An Explanation

Happy new year, y'all!
I know it's a little late, but I fell off the face of the earth before Christmas, and I haven't had a chance to ask how everyone's holiday was.
I just wanted to drop in and let everyone know what happened.
The week before Christmas, I was checking my stats, and found a disturbing search term that led to my blog.
As all of you know, my blog is covered with pictures of my daughter, and sometimes my niece. When I read the search term, my heart sunk. I am so very, very careful about what I write on my little blog, because I know how the interwebs work, and I am extremely protective of my daughter, so I try to be extra cautious. But, one word slipped through, and it led a pervert to my blog.
Now, I'm sure that once the person realized they were on a personal blog, they clicked out, but just knowing that someone like that saw pictures of my daughter, shook me to the core.
So, I took a sabbatical. I made my blog private, and I took a break. I put it in the back of my mind so I could enjoy Christmas and New Years with my family. Then I started the process of weeding through old posts and deleting any other key words that could pull my blog up in that type of search.
I've really missed the blogosphere, so now that my blog is cleaned up, I figured I'd go public, and start blogging again. Thanks for all of you who stuck around, hopefully I won't have to go through all of that again!!
And just in case I do, you can find me here or here!
Happy belated new year, lovahs, here's to a great 2012!