Just One Grain

My goodness gracious! I'm not sure what happened!! Life got so so busy...and time for blogging went out the window! Lets see, my husband and I coached TWO 5th grade flag football teams again this year. They both went into their 7th game undefeated...what an accomplishment for them, and us! they had to play each other for the very last game of the year, and they tied. I don't think it could have ended any better! Things at work have slowed down a bit, or at least that's what they tell me. I feel like I'm busier than ever! Now we're getting ready for Thanksgiving and then basketball starts for the kid. BUSY BUSY BUSY! I'll try to keep up better, I promise!

Disclaimer: I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. I was so excited to pull up to my mail box and find that little purple box! I received the following items:  The first thing that got broken into was this Tasty Kake, because that's what happens when you have a 10 year old...it was good. The only complaint that we had about this was that it was kind of crumbly...we ended up with chocolate topping on the floor :( I haven't seen these in our area, but we'll kep an eye out for them. My son says they could be an outside snack. It's been quite warm up here in the great Northwest! This deoderant/anti-perspirant smells wonderful and definetly gets the job done...I will be purchasing this again!  This lip balm has a little color added to it, it smells wonderful and has yet to melt in my purse. This is another item that I will seek out once I run out of it. To be 100% honest, I haven't had a chance to use this it...

Alright, so I was provided an awesome opportunity to try out this Ivory 2in1 hair and body wash. This stuff is AWESOME. It smells so good...like clean and wonderful! I was hesitant to use it as a hair wash because my hair is always so tangled if I don't use a conditioner. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with how my hair turned out after using the Ivory 2in1, it smelled good and it looked great too! My husband and my son both like it as well. One of the things I liked best is that it cuts down on the amount of bottles that are in my shower. I will definitely be using this product in the future and I highly advise that you do as well! Disclaimer: I received this item complimentary from Influenster. All opinions are my own.

I have been so super buys lately! I have so much to blog about, only no time in which to do it...I'll be back soon. Promise! 

I decided to sign up to participate in Kaitlyn from Wifessionals "Cara Box Exchange". I had a great time getting to know Kristyn from Chits and Giggles Blog and Kelsey from Keeping Up With Kelsey. I unfortunately had a loss in my family and fell behind on getting Kelsey's box out...thankfully she has been super sweet and her box will go out today. I definitely felt Kristyn's pain in finding things that start with K. But I hope Kelsey likes what she got! Now, on to what I received: Everything was wrapped in this cute pink tissue paper so I tried to put it in the pic :) Kristyn sent me K itKat, a Stephen K ing book (which I don't have and I'm really looking forward to reading), a Klik candy toy for my son, some nail polish (it's on the way), and a sweet note! I have to say, my son saw the toy and got so excited. He started talking so fast, I had a hard time understanding him...so I think saying he liked it is an understatement... Thanks again Kri...

What motivates me each day? It's this face. It's seriously plastered around my cube. I look at his happy, smiling face all day long. When I'm having a rough moment at work, I remind myself that this is why I'm here. He's the reason I get up every morning and most of the time what makes me go to bed at night. That kid up there...he's busy. He plays every sport that the school offers. That means football (my husband and I coach), basketball, soccer and baseball. And then he's on the tech squad and he participates in drama. We go to math night and movie night and bingo night. He goes to kids night out. He has friends...and they like to spend the night. He's a busy kid. He is one of the most thoughtful, responsible, caring and smart mini-adult I know. And not just because he's mine. We have been told on many occasions that he is a "Benjamin Button", a little old man in a kid's body. In fact, the other day he asked if someone could com...

When I was in school, I wanted to be a business owner. I participated in FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) and watched my dad run three businesses. {source}  I have always looked up to my dad, who has an uncanny way of turning nothing into something. I didn't want to have a boss. I didn't want to have someone to answer to. I didn't want to have to work set hours. I wanted the freedom that came with owning a business and having employees and being able to do what I wanted. I honestly thought I could do it. But when it comes down to it...it's easier to work for someone else. To not have to worry about the bills being paid and property taxes and payroll. It's easier to come in and do my 9-5 (which is really 6:30-3:00) and go home to my family and not have any major worries. My dad is a hard worker...but I guess I never really realized just what goes into running a successful business...and now, I work for a wonderful company. Most days, I really enj...

I have first hand experience with this one. It was just me and my dad for a long time...there were women that came and went through out my growing up, but my main steady was my dad. My biological mother passed away shortly before I turned two, my dad remarried when I was in kindergarten and again when I was in 2nd grade. My step-mom, whom I refer to as my mom, had a large hand in raising me from age 7 on, is still around, but they have been divorced since my senior year in high school. And even now, the he's the only steady parrent in my life. My dad braided my hair, cut my bangs, painted my fingernails, colored in coloring books, took me hunting, took me to jeep races, danced in the living room and was ALWAYS there. My father was much stricter than my Step mom. He was the enforcer regarding school, grades, whether my room was clean and so on and so forth...It is very interesting to me to see how differently my brother and sister have been raised. My sister is 8 year...

So this topic for me is kind of odd...because our roles are almost reversed anyways. My husband does most of the cooking, cleaning and kid related stuff (and has a part time job) and I work full time. So, if roles were reversed, I would only work three days a week. I would get up every morning and help him to get out the door. I would make sure his lunch was made, his car was started and his clothes were laid out when he got out of the shower. I would make sure my son was dressed (with his clothes on right side out) and makes it to the bus on time for school. I would ensure I called him 16 or 17 times a day (because that's what he does...okay, I'm exaggerating a little...) just to see what he was up to and tell him I love him. I would make sure the kitchen was clean and that dinner was started. I would ensure a couple of loads of laundry were done, but not folded...and then I'd take a nap!

Since I am new to this blogging scene I thought you might like to know a little about me from A-Z. I found this gem over at MostlyHappenstance . Check her out!   A - Available or married? Married!   B- Book? Yes please! I just finished one and need to start another   C- Cake or Pie? Cake- Funfetti. It tastes like fun!     D- Drink of Choice? Dr. Pepper lately, but it changes often…   E- Essential Item? Uhhhhh…eyeliner?   F- Favorite Color? Green   G- Game to play or watch? Football   H- Hometown? Spanaway, WA   I- Indulgence? Sleeping in.   J- Job? Operations Specialist   K- Kids and names? 1 kid, Alexander   L- Life is incomplete without? My family and friends.   M- Music group or singer? Tori Amos…but really anything, I love it all J   N- Number of siblings? 2 half siblings and 3 st...

This week has been a rough one for me. I'm thankful it's almost over! Ha! But for real, I'm so thankful for my husband, who stands by me and supports me and keeps my head on straight. I'm thankful that he gets up with me EVERY MORNING, cooks/makes me breakfast, my lunch, coffee, gets me ready and out the door on time to work. I'm spoiled frickin rotten. I'm thankful for my son, who knows just the right time when I need a hug or extra loves. A son who understands more than any normal 9 year old. I swear sometimes he is 70, but he is learning to be not so serious and be more carefree (even if it means driving me nuts by pouting and not doing his chores). I'm thankful for great, fantastic, wonderful friends. Who seem to be going through similar stuff, at the same time, so SOMEONE understands. Who don't jusdge, but are honest. Even when I don't want to hear it. And even though I don't always seem it, I'm oh so thankful! ...

Can I just tell you that my wedding was awesome...because it totally was. It was fun. It was quirky and it was perfect to me and the hubby (we're the only ones that matter in that equation anyways!). My step mom and her mom (my step-grandma??) decorated the whole thing...for super cheap. I've got a girlfriend who is a florist, all the flowers for $100. I got my dress, gorgeous, for $250 from David's Bridal. The venue, free. The bubble wrap?? FREE from the BEST VENDOR EVER. When people walked in the door, they walked into the wedding on bubble wrap. When I walked down the aisle...yep, bubble wrap (in heels, and I didn't fall!). When we exchanged rings...ring pops! They didn't fit, but it was way fun. The food was amazing, my husband cooked most of it himself and we had a little help from my mom and one of her friends. A girlfriend from high school made our cake...it looked just like the top of my dress...and was the best tasting cake I can think o...

About a month ago, I won this sweet necklace from Sarah over at  Southern Comfort, from a Yankee Perspective  .  Her sister-in-law from  The {Linc} Between Us    made it, BY HAND. I have gotten so many compliments on it. I highly suggest you stop over to Marie's Etsy shop and buy up all of her goodies! You can find her shop here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheLincBetweenUs Khristena

This week, I'm extra thankful for time with my family. Sometimes I'm just ready to pare down all the extra activities and spend some good quality time. We played cards, games and just vegged out and watched TV, but we did it TOGETHER. I linked up with Carina over at www.Carinalee.com you should too!

Hmm...well I just got married in September. And of course, everyone at the wedding had some advice to give, and it always keeps coming ;) but I think the best advice I got was "pick your battles". There is no need to fight over the little things, but when it comes time to say what I need or believe or want in a specific situation, he actually listens because he can see that it's important. Most of the time we can come to a compromise anyways. So, I always try (and I'm not always successful) to look at a situation and decide if I need to "go to battle" or not.

I've joined the 2013 Creative Pay It Forward! The details: The first 5 people to comment with their email (and blog address if you have one) will receive from me, sometime in this calendar year, a gift - perhaps a book, a baked good, jewelry, music - a surprise in the mail! There will likely be no warning, and it will happen when the mood strikes me. The catch: Those five people must make the same offer on their Blog.

Do you ever get to the point where you feel like washing your hands of a family member? Where it feels like more of a fight and struggle than what it's worth? I'm there. It takes/took a lot for me to get there. The reasonable side of me says to just calm down and it will blow over rather than blow up. But the other part of me is just so damn pissed that people just don't see things for what they are, and they treat me and other family members as though we have wronged them- When we clearly haven't. I have tried to always uplift my family, never bring them down and support them in all of their endevors. Even when I'm not treated with the same respect. I'm so stinkin tired of it. and now, here I am, and I have no idea what to do.

Joy from http://smalltownjoy.blogspot.com/  is trying to finish up her adoption of the baby that's been hers since the beginning. Please, if you have time, check them out and donate...even if it's just a little. Everything counts.

I sure wish I knew what the heck I'm doing...I haven't figured out how to add pics or links or show the cool stuff I just signed up for...sigh.

ugh...it hit. the sickness has gotten me TWICE in the last month. And, to top it off, I've managed to pass it to BOTH my husband and my son. Woo hoo! Other than that, life has thankfully been uneventful. Christmas went well. Got to go to the Seahawks vs. Rams game! that was awesome! And New Years Eve went well. Gotta love time off work and spent with family and friends! Hope all is well for everyone else in the blog-o-shpere!