My tots are Band-Aid fiends. I am allergic to them. The Band-Aids that is, not the tots. My second toe on my right foot is half the size of my big toe thanks to said offender. The toe itched so bad this morning that HH put ice cubes on my foot to numb it so I wouldn't be tempted to take a knife to the toe.

It is nearly impossible to have road rage in a vehicle when listening to Bear Necessities or Bippity-Boppity-Boo. I didn't say completely impossible, just nearly.

I am watching my nephew Cam this week on my own accord. Gives him someone to play with. My tots someone to play with. And gives me some sanity. However, the little f-er refuses to give me a hug or kiss but runs to my husband. Traitor.

My laundry is breeding while I sleep.

The man is potty-trained. No diapers in the last 2 weeks, nights included. Hurrah.

I have sent my resumes in to two separate places. Still bizarre.

I love to read. Love books. Love the library. I love the smell of books and the escape that a good book offers me. I love learning about different cultures and lands. I love to dream. I love the written word.

I read 3 books last week. 5 the week before. I just finished the Gemma Doyle trilogy by Libba Bray. I loved it. I was completely engrossed. As I usually am with a good book.

Well I just discovered that my Red, White & Blue swap partner and a friend just started this site.



Yes, I am in heaven. Come join me.

I need a rug for my living room. I haven't found one that I love that I can afford. Guess what?

Better Than Normal is hosting a great rug giveaway sponsored by CSN Rugs. They have a BIG prize where the winner gets to select from three fantastic area rugs. The prizes are a great value and the winner will get whichever one they choose!

Yeah. Here's hoping I win!

We didn't go to playgroup today because the tots were fighting this morning. We didn't go to the pool this afternoon because the tots played in bed instead of napping. We didn't go to the library this evening because the tots bickered all day long. He did this. She did that. Yada Yada Yada.

We were in our jammies all day long.

I sliced my thumb and thumb nail while shredding cheese. The tots ate cheese and/or jelly sandwiches for dinner tonight because my thumb hurt so bleeping bad I couldn't think straight.

I am still not on a schedule.

The house is a disaster. And the bug guy comes to spray tomorrow.

The lawn is partially mowed. The mower ran out of gas before I could finish the front. I pulled weeds in my flower beds. Pretty sure I pulled some of my plants too. I have no idea what I'm growing should look like pre-flowers.

My mainly potty-trained man peed and pooped his underwear today. He had done great for the last week. Hardly any accidents.

The dog ran off when I got the mail this morning. I walked the block once. The tots and I walked a two-block radius once. After getting in the truck and driving a 4-block radius, I found her. Trotting along. In an alley. Happy as can be. 3 blocks away.

How is it that I can balance the books of 14 different entities but can't keep my house clean and the tots from driving me mad?

I got my Red, White & Blue swap package from Miss Macey at Living in France.
I'm so super stoked.

The first thing I see when I open the box are Cracker Jacks. Yes, Cracker Jacks. I didn't even know they still made them anymore. As I'm typing, the tots are happily noshing away on the caramel corn goodness.

At some point in time in the last few weeks, Macey and I were emailing back and forth on the exquisitness that is licorice and if Twizzlers are better than Red Vines. I told her I preferred Red Vines but the tots preferred Twizzlers. Because Macey rocks, she sent both. I ate all the Red Vines and tried to keep them away from the man because he has since decided that my licorice is better. (Because it is! And all the Twizzlers were already gone...)

Daelyn is reading her new I Spy book. She also got Ariel stickers and a Princess coloring book. Macey pretty much hit the nail on the head with her.

The man is playing cars on the floor with his new blue car and his red ice cream truck. He also got Cars stickers. Dude's happy. Major score.

Me? I'm more than happy. I got a "D" to add to my decor. You'll have to trust me when I saw it's adorable. It's shabby chic according to Macey. White with green and blue stripes and a yellow flower. How cute! I'm trying to decide where to put it. In the living room? Make a new shelf? And the new pretty white candles I received? In the bathroom, around the big tub.

And I couldn't help but laugh at these. As Macey said, what every mom needs. How true. And considering I'm a chapstick-a-holic, I'm in heaven.

I also got a blue bandana with red flowers. I attempted to put it on my head in a cute fashion. Daelyn informed me I looked like a laundry maid. I'll use a mirror next time. These were also in the package. Know what I'll be doing tonight? Yes, painting Dae-girls nails. Perhaps I'll have time to paint my own. And Daelyn has already confiscated this. She has so far not taken the bracelet I got. Yes, Macey, it fits!

Macey also sent me some books that she read and recommended. Perfect as I just finished all 5 books I got from the library last week. (I already finished the first one. Midwives by Chris Bohjalian. Awesome. Highly Recommended!)

The tots are occupied. They are in heaven.

Keep an eye on Mamarazzi for the next swap. I highly recommend. What's better than sending a fellow blogger some awesome goodies and getting awesome goodies in return?

Thank you Macey! Thank you Mamarazzi!

As a survivor of rape, there are certain things, reminders, that take my breath away and scream of innocence lost. I am sure that this is true for survivors of any type of tragedy or crime.

For me, there is a certain plaid that makes me ill. A certain name that I will forever loathe. The shortened form of that particular name, however, is fine.

Some reminders are subtle and just throw me off course a bit. Some are so minuscule that I don't even know why I was a bit irritated until a few days later. Ah, that certain cologne. Or a particular day.

Other things, however, are more forceful. They're a slap in the face, double-you-over reminder. Something that screams: I'm still here. Memories may fade but never leave. No matter how far past it you've come, it's still there. Taunting you. Threatening you. Scarring you deep to your core.

I had one of those reminders today. It was completely out of the blue.

Since then, my whole day has been off. I'm shaken. Torn apart from the inside out.

Immediately I was taken back ten years. The sights and smells became tangible. The pain real. The hurt renewed.

It pisses me off the effect that something more than a decade old has on me.

But I am a survivor.

And I am surviving.

The man has a newfound thing for bubbles. I blame it on my late habit of gum chomping. He likes to pop the bubbles. Friday night, we had a little mini-house-party with the 4 of us popping on bubble wrap. And in the tub he gets excited when the soap makes bubbles.

SO, last night. The man's in the tub.

Going on and on about his new bubble.

He hollers for me.

I go in.

I see his bubble.

It's his little ball sack.

I'm just glad he didn't pop the thing.