Committed

We did it! Hubby and I have been looking for a house, lot, underpass, or any place that is a good place to live for a LONG time!

Here is some background info...hubby has some commitment issues. Case in point...we dated for 3 years. He gives me the ring (and it is really gorgeous) and says let's get married. We set a date. One week before the date, hubby says he isn't ready. We cancel the wedding.

Case Study number 2. Hubby lived in Washington DC. Part of our relationship was that I could not move. This was a decision made by the wonderful divorce courts of Texas. They don't let the mom move. He was *just about* to move about 4 times and couldn't do it at the last minute. Once he said he just couldn't get on the plane, and a couple of times he canceled movers the day of!

So, as you can see...if hubby says it is going to happen, NEVER count your chickens first!

We have been under contract with several different properties over the years. And, this last lot, we were under then over then under again. FINALLY we close today! Now, this post could be premature, because as you now know...hubby and commitment don't mesh.

BUT, if he doesn't commit, then he is going to be committed! I feel like we are doing a bad hokey pokey. GET ME OFF THIS CRAZY RIDE!

So, we have an architect and the seedlings of a plan for the lot. We lovingly refer to it as our "bowling alley". Long and narrow, but it will be all ours. We drive by often and gaze at the house that is decomposing on the lot with love. We imagine and talk and dream. We put our right foot in and then take it back out.

The seller is sick to death of us...can't blame him and at this point the mere fact that he is selling it to us is a miracle in itself!

So, today we go and sign the papers. We get the keys to our bowling alley. We work on plans and who knows...maybe in 5 years...hubby will commit to actually building!

This is a Tough Week

This is a tough week for me. For those of that don't already know...most of you do know this...I am divorced, so hubby is step daddy and daddy is ex #2. The month of July my kids spend with ex #2. Which is in a day and a half.

Normally, this is not so emotional for me, although it is always difficult to let your kids go for a month, but this time I am also having major surgery. The bright side is that I know my kids will be taken care of. The dark side is that I don't want them to worry and if they were home with me, then they could see me get better every day.

I am sad that they will be leaving. I already miss them and they haven't left yet. I am nostalgic and overindulgent because of it. I think this surgery, which takes place in a week is a major factor in this as well.

I have to board my dog because hubby will be at the hospital with me, which will be for almost a week, so no one will be home to take care of her. This is another person to miss.

I have so much to take care of, and working for myself and not being able to blog for a while adds stress to this week. I feel I need to get all my ducks in a row. I will be home after a week, but pretty much bed ridden for 2 weeks after the surgery. This means that I won't be having computer time. This means not being able to fulfill sales or ebay sales. This means major stress!!

Then there are my blogs. One I just started, and it is gaining momentum and I hate to stop that smack dab in the middle, and the other one, this one is finally getting comments and friends, and I hate to stop this one as well! I will be back, but it will be hard.

And, finally, the surgery itself....

Let's just say I have been sick for the past year and after many many tests the conclusion is that my ovaries are not so good. I have already been through cervical cancer, but honestly that just entailed taking out my cervix and uterus. I am not upset about losing the ovaries, so much as worried about what they are going to find.

I am at the best hospital for cancer, MD Anderson, with the best doctor. I am not worried about the hormonal changes, but I am worried about the big C. This won't be just getting rid of the ovaries, but could mean many months of treatment, being sick, losing my hair and other things.

I have to be able to take care of my kids, my hubby, my business, my blogs, my dog and my life.

This week the pressure is on to get everything organized before the big surgery and saying good bye to my kids for a month. I can only handle one day at a time this week, and if I could sleep it would make it easier, but I can't sleep eat or think right now.

Taking deep breaths and lots of Tylenol and just hoping to get it all done.

The Many Faces of Brattitude

Brattitude is a 5 year old boy who is an imp a love a pain a joy and everything in between. He screams like a girl laughs like a loon and has eyelashes that make your heart melt. He knows all the words to Queen songs, Abba songs and even some Rod Stewart. He says he sings as good as they do. He is coordinated with sports and scared of his own shadow. He still has dimples instead of knuckles and a squishy butt. He fights with his sister and cries when she fights back. He talks back knows everything and is never wrong. He knows when to be sweet and is afraid of no one and nothing. He is the most precocious cutest precious kid in the universe, and if you ask him, he will tell you how cute he is. He makes you laugh smile and groan in frustration. He is my son and I love him.

Here are the many faces of my brattitude boy....

Look Mom! No hands!!



I'm stronger than the dog!



I'm such a monkey!



A young Richard Nixon.

What would you do?

I almost got up in the middle of the night to write this one...

I was lying in bed and was thinking about this post and starting laughing so hard the bed was shaking! Hubby woke up because I was laughing so hard!!

Here goes...

This weekend, hubby and I were out to eat. This is the norm for us, because I don't cook, unless you count ordering in! There we are sitting at one of our "spots", which would be any one of 4 favorite places that we seem to frequent the most, perusing the menu when the waiter walked up.

He asked to take our drink orders. I look up and what do I see????

A BUGGER hanging out of his nose! Not just a small bugger but a long bugger that seemed to be attached to either another bugger or nose hairs or something. But, this was a gravity defying bugger.

I couldn't make eye contact...or bugger contact. I couldn't look. Now, I find bodily functions HILARIOUS, so it was taking all my will power to not laugh. (I am cracking up just sitting here, swear, my darling daughter just asked me if I was crying!)

After we give him our drink menus I lean over the table to hubby.

Me "Did you see that Bugger hanging out of his nose?"
Hubby "yes" ( he does not find the same kind of humor that I do)
Me "What if it falls in someones food??"
Hubby "I am sure that won't happen."
Me "I couldn't look at him!"
Hubby "Me neither."

I am sitting there thinking about this and worrying. Hoping that bugger finds a home before our food is brought out. The next time the waiter walks up the bugger is gone!

What happened to it? Did it fall on it's own accord and if so, where did it land? Could it be in someone's food? Do they make bugger nets for noses, like hair nets for heads? Did someone tell him and he got rid of it the proper way?

The real question...should we have told him and would you have told him??
And, can you believe this is my life!!

Flip Flops and Toenails

I am giving myself an award for being the most patient wife on the planet! I love hubby, but sometimes I wonder about him...

Saturday, we are getting ready to go and run our errands. The kids were at their fathers, so we slept in late and hubby was rested (for a change). I hear him upstairs getting ready (I was ready, he takes longer than me, I think he is a woman), so I take the dog out and then go to put her in her room.

The dog's room is the laundry room, and because it is 105 outside, she can't stay in that heat. I hear hubby flopping past the laundry room. I notice he left the light on in the bedroom and the door open. As a general practice, we shut the bedroom doors so the dog won't go in and chew everything up...especially shoes.

I turn the lights off and shut the door...grumbling about why he can't do it himself...and go downstairs. Here is how the conversation goes....

Me "You left the lights on in the bedroom and the door open."
Hubby "I am wearing Flip Flops today."
Me "I see that (speaking in my mommy to a child voice). What does that have to do with the lights?"
Hubby "I am wearing Flip Flops."
Me "Okayyyyyyy. But, what does that have to do with the lights?"
Hubby "I am wearing Flip Flops." (Did I mention that I think that he might be retarded??)
Me, looking at him like he is crazy and getting annoyed, "I heard you and I see that, but WHAT does that have to do with you not turning out the lights? Are you saying that because you are wearing flip flops you can't turn out the lights?"
Hubby "Exactly!"

It is at this point that we are now in his car. He drives a stick shift, which is an important fact in this story.

Hubby "It's hard to drive a stick with flip flops on."
Me "It's hard to turn out lights with flip flops on."

Hubby laughs and I look down at his feet to see just how much trouble he is having with the clutch, which is when I notice it....THE TOENAIL!

His big toenail was SO long! It was a talon, a claw, a sharp object used to spear things!

Me "When was the last time you cut your toenails?" (note this is said very calmly and nonchalantly)
Hubby "Why? Do they need to be cut?"

I started to laugh. Not just chuckle, but full blown pee in my pants tears rolling down my face can't breathe laughing. I am thinking of writing this on my blog. I am thinking about how obsessive he is. I am thinking about the flip flops.

Me, gasping for air, "Is that your Coke Toe nail??"
Hubby "That's not nice. You aren't nice. I am stopping at the drug store first!"

I watch as he stops at CVS and runs inside...leaving me in the 110 degree car with no A/C on, which is my punishment for making fun of him...coming back with...

TOENAIL CLIPPERS!!!!!!!

I believe it takes a very patient person to live with someone that is like this. Part kid, part man. But, in the end I love him, ticks and all, even toenails!

What do you get?

What do you get when you cross a St. Bernard and a Great Dane? No, this isn't a riddle!



What are you going to get when your crazy hubby wants one of his own? No, this isn't another riddle!



Hard to resist that face, isn't it?!?

I've Been Caught!

I've been caught! Red handed, or Boyfriend Jean handed, as the case may be. Hubby has been out of town this week, and truth be told, he didn't even know what a blog was until recently!

As smart as he is, he is dumb as a stump when it comes to computers and especially the internet...must be an age thing (psssst...he's old!). He recently joined Facebook. He didn't know what it was, and I had to help him set up his account. He doesn't even know how to use it, but he goes on to accept friend requests.

Apparently he got a friend request from someone he didn't know, but who "supposedly" knows me, convenient that he couldn't remember their name..grrrrrr. Anyhoo, he is looking around their page, and sees my posts, which are tied to my twitter account, which are tied to my Facebook page, which are tied to my blogger blog, which is getting me tied up in knots!

So, he meanders over to my blog and what does he read......yup, the Boyfriend Jeans! I get a phone call while I am going to pick up my daughter at camp. There I am speeding along when the cell rings. Normally he doesn't call during the day, so I figure he has some news...we are trying to buy a lot, a house in Galveston, a dog and several other turn your life upside down and never get it right side up again things!

Here is how the conversation went...

Hubby, "What's the deal with Boyfriend Jeans?"
Me, thinking, What boyfriend?, "What?"
Hubby, "What's the deal with Boyfriend Jeans?"
Me, very innocently, "What do you mean? Boyfriend Jeans?"
Hubby, "How many pairs do you own?"
Me, "You know how much you like those jeans that already have the holes in them? Those are Boyfriend Jeans."
Hubby, "What jeans with the holes in them?"
Me, "You know I have those pairs with the holes in them? I wore a pair in Vegas."
Hubby "How many pairs do you have?"
Me, playing dumb..."I don't know."
Hubby "I read the Blog. How much do each pair of those jeans cost!"
Me "I have some that are just Levi's!"
Hubby, not buying it, "How many pair and how much do they cost?"
Me "Well, I bought some a long time ago, and I love them because they are baggy and worn and so comfy. You know I don't like to wear fitted things. Especially since I have put on some weight."

Sidebar here...see, I know hubby, and he is the type of guy that when you talk about yourself, he automatically talks about himself. For example, I'm so tired. He responds with I'M so tired, I haven't slept in years. Another example, I don't feel well. He responds, I don't feel well, I think I have the flu. And finally I feel fat. You feel fat? I am a fat pig! I have put on 15 pounds. I need to go and work out. I need to go on a starvation diet and wear a rubber suit. (It is at this point that I want to point out that he really needs to be put IN a rubber ROOM.)

You see where I am going with this! Threw him right off the track, and he went into this whole thing about his weight until he had to go to a meeting!

The last time I talked to him, he said it was funny that I called him hubby on the blog, but very funny that I called my younger son, bratitude boy.

He didn't mention the jeans again...whew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sadie Sadie Single Mom but Married Lady

For of those of you that have been reading about me, you know that I am on hubby #3. I don't have any shame about it. It is what it is. I was too young the first time, the second is the father of my kids and the third is the love of my life.

All that being said, I still view myself as a single mom. My hubby is bi-coastal. He has kids in the East and his company is in the East, so he is there for about 2 weeks every month...sometimes more and sometimes less.

The traveling works for us. Many friends and family ask me how I can stand it, but the truth is, if he were here all the time, we would probably kill each other. We have been together for 3 years and married for 3 months.

I have been a single parent for almost 4 years. My ex is not what I would call involved. He does take his visitation, but he is absent the rest of the time. It is me and them and them and me and has been that way for a very long time.

Whether hubby is home or not, I feel single when it comes to my kids. Hubby loves them and they love him, but I am Mommy. Mommy is who they go to when they want something, need something, have something, get something and say something. Mommy is who takes them to camp, play dates, parks, zoos, movies, swimming, dinner, shopping.

I can ask hubby to stay with the kids or take them to Birthday parties and take up slack for me, he does it willingly and with a smile, but it's the hard stuff. The discipline, the fighting, the whining that makes me feel like I am doing it alone.

I know that I am not the only married parent out there that feels this way, and I also know that some of you that feel this way are married to your kids fathers, but I still sometimes wonder about that dichotomy of married and single.

Just another curve ball that I have to figure out and just another outlet to let it out. Thank you all for allowing me this outlet to vent, complain, digress and talk.

My Attention Span

I'm convinced I am ADD. These days I have the attention span of a gnat. I took the kids to camp this morning...a 45 minute ordeal..came home, had my coffee, read my emails and went up to my workroom to (say it with me) WORK ON MY FOOTSTOOLS!

Did I work on a footstool? NOPE!

I did do some work on a chest for someone....but I didn't finish it. Not because I don't have all the materials, but because my attention span is nill.

I need motivation. I need pushing and shoving. I need SLEEP!

Now, I am killing time waiting to go and pick the kids up from camp...a 45 minute ordeal...then I am off to take them to the movie Up in 3D (is there any other way to see it!) and to dinner where they can entertain themselves with video games.

I guess I'll finish that chest tomorrow...unless my ADD hits again.

Hi, My Name is Lee and I'm an Addict...

Hi, my name is Lee and I'm an addict. I have been addicted for about 3 months, and I can't seem to stop. I can't help myself, every time I see it, I have to do it!



That's right, the Boyfriend Jean. I LOVE these jeans! First of all, I hate to wear things that are tight. So, these jeans are perfect for me. Loose and well worn, the more tears the better.



Seriously, if hubby had any idea how much money I have spent on jeans over the past 3 months, he would have a heart attack! But, I just love these jeans. The best part about them?? Because they are worn and comfy, you actually need to buy a size SMALLER than what you normally wear! Who wouldn't be addicted to that!



I think I have 5 pairs...maybe 6 or 7...I am afraid to count.

My name is Lee and I am a Boyfriend Jeans addict. Do you think there is a 12 step program for that? A local support group would work well also. If anyone has any ideas, let me know...please...otherwise me and my jeans will look right at home under the bridge, where I will have to live because hubby will send me there...so, anyone??

Resolution....

I RESOLVE to work on my footstools tomorrow!
I RESOLVE to work on my footstools tomorrow!
I RESOLVE to work on my footstools tomorrow!
I RESOLVE to work on my footstools tomorrow!
I RESOLVE to work on my footstools tomorrow!
I RESOLVE to work on my footstools tomorrow!

Wonder what I will end up doing tomorrow??
Bet it's not work on any footstools!!

Don't you love to find your products on other sites?!

I LOVE when this happens! I am checking stats, and whenever I see a site that I am not sure where the traffic comes from, I go and take a look. So, I see that I have been getting traffic from Upscale Baby Blog. I think back...did I submit something to them? How did they come across me?

So, I am scrolling down and there it is! A blurb about Your Couture Kid and our 75% off Step Into Summer Sale! Thanks to Greta for finding my store and posting about it on your blog! I totally appreciate it!!

Great Giveaway from House of Gems!

Have you ever wanted to start your own handmade jewelry store on Etsy or Silkfair, but didn't know where to start? Maybe you already enjoy scrapbooking and knitting and thought beading might be worth a try, but weren't sure about the investment.

Now you can win a bracelet making kit plus $75 in product - a $100 value - by entering the "Bejeweled Giveaway" contest. Ten readers across the Momfluence network blogs will be chosen to win!

But there's more! Those ten winners will be able to submit a picture of their completed bracelet to the House of Gems, and one will be chosen to receive a $250 gift certificate, enough product to really jump start your business.

To Enter:
Readers must choose one or more ways to enter.
Option 1 - Subscribe to one or more of the House of Gems feeds found at http://www.houseofgems.com/feeds.aspx - each feed subscription counts as a new entry! Once you've subscribed fill out this entry form: http://cli.gs/ND4NMe

Option 2 - Blog about the "Bejeweled Giveaway" contest on your own site then fill out this entry from: http://cli.gs/ND4NMe

Join us on Twitter Saturday, June 27th at 9:00 p.m. eastern for a #houseofgems SiteWarming party where the 10 winners will be announced!

One person on Twitter will also win an iPhone 3GS! Anyone on Twitter who tweets with the hashtag #HouseofGems between Noon eastern Monday, June 22nd and noon eastern Saturday, June 27th will be entered to win an iPhone 3GS! U.S. residents 18 years and older are eligible. The winner will be announced during the #houseofgems SiteWarming party Saturday, June 27th at 9 p.m. eastern.

About the House of Gems:

House of Gems, Inc. (www.houseofgems.com) was established to provide quality beads, pearls, findings, pendants, chains and other jewelry making accessories at wholesale prices, directly to the consumer.The people behind Houseofgems.com have been in this business since 1992 and have an extensive network of designers, manufacturers and other direct suppliers to draw upon.

Since they have their own factories,craft shops and import directly, they have the best prices on quality products. Now, with the power of e-commerce they have eliminated the 'middle men', bringing their quality products at low wholesale jewelry prices, directly to your doorstep.

Your Couture Kid is in Kids Trend Weekly!

I am always very busy trying to promote my footstools and now my treasure chests. It is a long slow hard road, and for those of you who make things and try to sell them, then I am sure you understand.

I send things off to magazines all the time, but have finally got my stool in a magazine! Kids Trend Weekly is an online weekly mag that highlights all the latest and the greatest trends in kids and baby stuff.

Check it out! My Bed of Roses Footstool!! Now, if it will just bring me sales! Oh, and if you use the code, TotsTrend20, you will get 20% off your footstool through August 1!



Shameless self promotion...but if I'm not gonna do it, who is??

My Mommy is so proud of me!

I forgot to tell you all about my dad's 75th birthday bash in Vegas! Well, my younger brother and I were told that we were to be the MC's of this party. So, we had to come up with something fast to say!

I wrote a corny poem for us in about 20 minutes, but with the wine, felt no pain from it. So, everyone is reading their things, or saying nice things about my Dad, and then we call on my Mom....

SHE READS MY MILESTONE BLOG ENTRY TO EVERYONE AT THE TABLE!!

Now, she has NO idea what a blog is, she can barely do email, but I had printed it out and given it to my dad the day of his actual birthday...almost made him cry...and she suddenly develops some web savvy and prints it out herself and reads it!

She is so proud! Wonder what she will be mad at me about tomorrow??

Vegas Baby Update!

I am back in the real world. I already miss the glittery world of Las Vegas. Where the girls all are wearing tee shirts as dresses with super duper high heels and the guys are wearing tons of chains and hair gel.

Bells, whistles, shouts, screams and lots of groans makes up the sounds you hear as you meander through the casino. I even love the stale smell of cigarette smoke...yes, I am a sicko!

This is the poop. We land in Vegas with a limo..GOLD LIMO...waiting for us and we are whisked off to the Golden Nugget, where we stayed. Get it, Golden Nugget = Gold Limo. Cute and oh so Vegas, Baby!

We are put in the Spa tower in a two story suite that is SO Vegas it was hysterical! Mirrors on every ceiling...which was when I decided I was not going to be on top this trip, if you know what I mean! For all you young uns, please disregard the previous line.

First, let's start with the food...

Joe's Stone Crab...DELICIOUS!
The Burger Bar...BEST burger I have EVER had!
Original Pancake House...Fantastic Breakfast!
Vic & Anthony's...YUMMMMMMMMMMY!
David Burke's....SUPER YUMMMMMMMMMY!

Then, let's talk about the alcohol...

LOTS of wine and Mojitos!

NOW, the gambling....

Can you say....4 Aces in 4 Card Poker??? Yes, that would be hubby, who is THE Luckiest son of a gun that I have ever met! He won....$4,800 on ONE hand with that! That was on the first real day of gambling, so we gambled on all won money. F A N T A S T I C!

This was such a great trip. We gambled, ate, drank and had sex. Could anyone be happier in their happy place than lil ole me?

Back to reality tomorrow and my 45 minute driving kids to camp, but for now, I am still imagining myself sitting at the 4 card poker table for hours and soaking it all up!

I Want to Make that!: Craft Project and Giveaway: Lavender Salt Scrub

I Want to Make that!: Craft Project and Giveaway: Lavender Salt Scrub

My first giveaway on my NEW blog! Check it out!

Happy Father's Day

Okay, so it isn't really Father's day yet, but because my kids will be at their Dad's this weekend for Father's day, they wanted to celebrate with their step dad...my hubby...tonight.

This is huge. My son, the brattitude boy, he loves hubby. My daughter, she has had a harder time adjusting. Not because she doesn't like him, but because she had to share mommy, and it has been me, her and brattitude for the past 4 years.

As bratty as brattitude is, he is so cute, and everyone loves him. He is easy to love because he is very affectionate. DD is not so affectionate and she is a bit more reserved. I told hubby that he needed to spend one on one with her and that he needed to try with her.

She liked him, but was unsure. At the end of the school year, she did a presentation on Dinosaurs. It was a big deal. She wrote a paper, did a visual and did a speech. Hubby went. She was thrilled. It has been smooth sailing since then.

It is amazing that they want to celebrate Father's day with hubby, think of him as Dad, and that I am very lucky that we have all blended so well.

For those Dad's out there...have a wonderful day. For those blended out there, keep on keepin on!!

My Happy Place...

I'm so so so so excited! Tomorrow I am off to Vegas, Baby! YIPPEE!! NO KIDS! LOTS OF GAMBLING!

So, here is the deal with me and Vegas. This is my happy place, my personal Disney Land. This is where I love. I wanted to get married in Vegas. After all, it was number 3, and what the hey, it's Vegas, Baby!

But, my hubby thought it was too Elvis, and so we settled for the Rabbi's study. I still haven't gotten over the fact that I couldn't go to the Elvis Chapel of Love in jeans and a tee and tie the knot. Oh well!

We are staying at the Golden Nugget. I haven't ever stayed there, but the party that we are meeting are all staying there and we have a "suite" deal, so that is where we are staying. Of course, I do plan on visiting my forum! Gotta do some shoppin!

A bit of info on me...I do not have an addictive personality, but when it comes to gambling, if I needed to, I would gamble my house, jewelry and kids!

If anyone needs me this weekend, day or night, you can find me at either the Wynn, Bellagio or the Golden Nugget at the craps, blackjack or three card poker table!

See you all on Monday!!

I just have to complain for a second...

There is something that has been bothering me, and I need to air it out. It seems to me, that since this is my blog, and I honestly don't know how many people read it, this is as good as place as any.

I will assume that I am not the only person who has been in this situation, and will certainly not be the last, but hopefully this will reach enough people that it will happen less in the future.

I run an online children's store. Your Couture Kid started out as a platform for all work at home moms to showcase their products. It was the place to go to purchase that one of a kind merchandise that you couldn't find in the large on line or brick and mortar stores. I greatly enjoyed finding these wonderful mom's and buying wholesale from them to support their growing businesses.

When a package would come, I was so excited to open it and see the goods. My kids have grown out of all toddler and baby gear, so I was not purchasing it for myself, but for all of you. Seeing all this talent made me want to craft again. In my former life, I sold hand painted children's furniture. So, an idea brewed to make these footstools. And, I am pretty darn proud of them.

Sales have been slow, but thanks to some incredible bloggers out there, they have picked up over the past 2 months. My new goal is to sell out of the merchandise that I have bought from others and only sell my stuff on line. Expand my own lines, work on my other Blog, I want to Make This: Tales of a Closet Crafter and take care of my kids.

So, I have been having a huge sale, and the items that I never put online, I am selling at 5% above wholesale...just to make back my some of my output.

Here's my complaint. I have been approached by several bloggers who want free merchandise. Not to just write a review, but for their own personal gain. They have toddlers or babies, and want merchandise that I didn't make and in return they will write a review about my site.

I have no issues with bloggers asking for a review of a footstool, or a chest and in return doing a giveaway. In fact, I love to do that, and check those sites often to see the comments, but I do have an issue with a blogger that wants merchandise because they don't want to pay for it, and then the review is really a piece of crap that they write up.

At least, if you are going to get freebies, when you write up a review, make sure your grammar and spelling are correct! Make sure the links work! Make it personal!

This is my fault. I knew when I was approached and then said, let me make you a footstool, and she asked me for 3 pieces of merchandise, I should have just said no, but I didn't. Shame on me for agreeing, but shame on her for trying to profit.

Ask me for reviews of the stools, the chests, the jewelry boxes, the hair accessories and the frames, and you will not be disappointed with the merchandise that you receive. You will be overjoyed and your kids will love it, but please don't ask ANYONE for merchandise to review because you don't want to pay for it.

Whew...thanks, I feel better.

Milestones

June 16, 2009 marks a very important milestone in my life, and that of my family. My father is 75. Now, normally, 75 is something to celebrate because reaching that age is always a great thing, but for us, it is especially important.

In November of 1996 my Dad was diagnosed with stage 4 Squamish Cell Lung Cancer. He was given less than a 5% chance of survival. On the day he had his surgery, the surgeon told us it would either be a long surgery and they would remove his lung, or a short surgery because the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes.

It was not 30 minutes later that the surgeon came out of the OR with the news that the cancer had spread into his chest cavity. The evening sitting at home in his bed, with his children around him, he claimed that the cancer was not going to kill him.

My Dad had 1 year of Chemotherapy, 6 months of Radiation and one of his lungs removed during the next 2 years. He did not lose his hair, his will, his humor, his zest for life or his great attitude. He gained a greater understanding and love for his family. Showing and telling us every day how much he loved us.

My Father had a wonderful career and was well recognized in his chosen field. He has been successful as a provider and a husband. He has tons of friends that he has had since he was a boy. He has been through many hardships. He has survived them all.

Happy Birthday Dad to an amazing husband, father, grandfather, man and person. I love you very much and am so happy and humbled to be celebrating 75 years of life with you.

I Love to see my traffic

Every morning I get up (before the kids) and check out the traffic on Your Couture Kid (you should shop here, we have great merchandise and great savings), my website. I love to see where the visitors come from and how many visited. I am happy to say that my two giveaways, one at Pink and Posh and one at Comfort Joy Designs (by the way you should now click on those links and enter to win), are bringing in tons of traffic!

But, sometimes I am getting traffic from some very weird places. For instance, I am getting a lot of traffic from UV Skinz. I have searched that site up and down, and I don't have any links there, but I do love the site!

So, for those of you who have kids and haven't been there, check it out! They make swim shirts and shorts for kids and adults. Her story is touching, and her cause is great. I don't know about the rest of you, but my kids do not go in the sun without a swim shirt on, and since they swim every day in the summer, we need lots of swim shirts!!

Although there is a great variety at Target, I am an online shopper, and if I can avoid going into a store, then I will avoid it at all costs! So, I have ordered a shirt for my son...okay...a couple, and the quality is fabulous, the price is great and the selection outstanding!

Go and visit them today and happy swimming!!

Too Tired To Fight...

I am Too Tired to fight with my kids, husband, mother and brothers. I am too tired to fight with the dog. I am too tired to fight with my ex. I have been so tired for the past year, and now it is culminating in a major surgery and I hope that after that I will not be too tired to fight for myself.

My last year has been hundreds of test and doctor visits. Weight loss and weight gain. Fatigue, fatigue and more fatigue. Night sweats and some day sweats. Low grade constant fever. Lower back pain. Lower body aches. The culmination of all these tests...

I should start at the start. I had cervical cancer. My OBGYN removed my cervix and uterus vaginally and left the ovaries almost exactly 2 years ago. She declared me ok. Did I go to Anderson...which is in my backyard, my Dad is on the board of, and the best place to go...no. Call it fear, denial, stupidity.

My Doctor left my ovaries for all the obvious reasons, but I had begged her to take them as well, and she wouldn't. Too young, they looked good yada yada yada. So, here I am 2 years later. Seeing a top Oncologist in Gynecology, specializing in Dysplasia and Cervical Cancer, and noting the growth on my right ovary that has grown over 2" in the past 3 months.

How does something that starts out simple turn out complex? Well, that is apparently what happened with me. Misdiagnosed from the first scan as have Polycystic Ovaries, I now have complex cysts with "parts" in them. Lovely.

I've done the research, but due to my history, she is looking for a malignancy. I am not worried about Surgical menopause. I can handle all of that, but I hope I am not too tired to fight if it is the Big C.

This is going to be a very tough surgery. My ovaries are in a weird place and they are tangled in my bowels, which means some resectioning. I will be out of pocket for about a month, maybe longer, depending on what they find.

Just had to wonder and ask...what if you are too tired to fight?? What then?? You hear of people that find out they have cancer, then have super human strength to fight the disease and win, but what if they are too tired to fight? I am hoping that I will not be so tired when my surgery is done and I am healed, and then if I do have to fight I will have the strength.

Sorry for the downer, but I needed to put it down on paper...or on computer.

Leica C-LUX 3 Giveaway at Ideeli

Ideeliis giving away a Leica C-LUX 3 Camera! To enter, join here!!

What's the point of living in style if you don't have the proper means to document it? We know how the perfect photo can bring that idyllic summer afternoon back to life, and how just the right shot can capture a fleeting moment for years to come, which is why ideeli is giving away a C-Lux 3 Digital Camera by world-renowned Leica.

One lucky winner will receive this sleek, compact camera, and with it, a small piece of history. What began in a German optical factory that developed fine microscopes became one of the most innovative camera makers worldwide. Thanks to the vision of Oskar Barnack, Leica shifted cameras away from traditional heavy plate designs towards the first successful small-format cameras, thereby revolutionizing the industry as early as 1925 and creating unprecedented freedom in both reporting and artistic photography. Still known today for its diminutive and lightweight designs, Leica guarantees that those good times ahead won't slip by unnoticed and the photo finish is only the beginning.

Take a Peek at my Peek!

I had to share my new toy with all of you! I had an iPhone, but I am just not technologically savvy enough to GET it. After being frustrated with the touch key pad and the slidey thingy, well, that was enough for me...and let's not even get me started on all the dropped calls!

So, I went back to Verizon and got a Blackberry. Well, I got the world one, so that I could call and get email from everywhere, and what do you know....it didn't work! They didn't sell me the card that goes in it! But, more than that, the phone kept going blank. I would shake it, bang it, punch every button...and still...blank screen.

Just about the time I was ready to trash it, I saw on the Gilt(by the way, if you click on that link, you can join up!) website the Peek! It is, simply put, an email and text device. Just what I needed! No contract! So, I did my research and armed with my new knowledge, approached DH and told him that I wanted to get a peek and get rid of the Blackberry.

He, of course, had a fit...considering the Blackberry was only about 2 months old, but when I told him it would save us money on our cell phone bill, he was all for it! Text and email service for my Blackberry was $30/month. Peek monthly service is $19.95. There are two devices, one holds 3 email addresses and one holds 5. Unlimited text and email on each.

It came, and it was so easy to set up! It is so simple! Perfect for me. So, go and visit Get Peek and Get your Peek today! By the way...I don't get a thing for this review...just something that I think is great and wanted to share!

Happy Peeking!

New Stuff!! New Category!

Check it out at Your Couture Kid! Fabulous Tutu's and Fabulous prices! Pssstttt....they even have their own category!

What's For Sale?