Beyond my understanding...

What's with Bed, Bath and BEYOND?

I hAtE that store.

LOATHE it.
I tried a few times to like it, but I've pretty much concluded that I won't be going back.

I went today to get a shower liner that we replace like every 6 months. I usually buy the same one at Target that cost $7.99. I got a coupon {I'm sure they are trying to get me to shop there since I bought a spatula there like 4 years ago} and so I thought I'd get a steal. NO. The cheapest one they had {which was also the same as the Target one I might add} was $19.99.

Ridiculous...and WHAT a waste of time. I hated every second that I was in there {am I dramatic or what?} Why did I stray from Target? SHAME on me.

Seriously. These 3 reasons alone are enough to keep me away from the place {and next time I think about going I'm going to remind myself of this post}:

1. TOO much stuff packed in there...I mean it is comparable to a Wal-mart. It actually might be worse. There is so much "as seen on TV" stuff in there I feel like I'm in an infomercial.

2. A good percentage (I'd go so far to say 75% of it) is just junk. There are WAY too many knick-knack {patty-whacks} in there. I cannot STAND seeing anymore of those "inspirational sayings" painted on cheap plywood with some corny artwork that I could probably paint. There are WAY cooler ways to have quotes/Bible verses to hang in your home. The artwork they do have that is decent is overpriced. SO annoying.
Oh! And what is with the peppers (or whatever that is) in the glass jar for display all about? They have a {ka}billion of those for sale and I just kind of want to throw up in my mouth a little when I see them. They really don't look cool...and I just don't get it. Am I missing something?

3. Overpriced{ junk}.
They may have a few good kitchen items, but towels and bedding...NO WAY would I ever buy from there. The place is a TOTAL rip off...coupon or not. I think if I got a giftcard from there I'd give it away. Obviously somebody likes the place because they are still open.

So... I won't be back. I don't even want to think about the place again....next time I go by one, I will be going BEYOND...the store.

ps- I know it's not Monday so I really should't have complained today...but SHEESH.
ON to tommorow, and a HAPPIER post.

On Jon & Kate plus 8.

mmmmmm....kay.

So, I was deleting some old drafts I had begun and never amounted to anything and came across a post I wrote in April of 2007 about the show Jon & Kate plus 8. There were 30 comments of which I had never read about 20 of! Most of them were fine but there were a few of which the language I'd prefer not to read.

Anyway.

In the post I stated my love for this new show and for the first two seasons I tuned in when I could. It was interesting to watch Jon & Kate interact and raise their 8 {very young} kids. The kids were cute and we all sympathized with Jon and Kate struggling to keep the kids cleaned and fed. and I’m not exactly sure when it all changed but what used to be an enjoyable reality show evolved into a monster.

Today the sextuplets are 5, and the twins are 9 {I think}...but I've actually stopped watching the show.

The way Kate treats her husband is a little too much for me to handle anymore. She is disrespectful and many times just downright mean to him.

I used to say that if any of us were being filmed like that it wouldn't be pretty either, I mean we are all sinners after all, and I sympathize with the fact that they have a lot of work on their hands but that is no excuse.

I just don't think it is good {or healthy} to watch anymore. In fact I actually watched a show on the same channel {tlc} called 18 kids and counting, and I the children are very sweet, and respectful to their parents, the husband and wife are very kind to each other. While they are probably precieved as "dorky homeschoolers" by many, they are a VERY sweet family. Of course they are still sinners too, and they have their problems to deal with I just appreciate the respect and kindness the family shows to one another. It is refreshing.

sigh.

If it were up to me I'd get rid of our TV. We do enjoy ESPN though, so alas it stays.

For the sake {and health} of their marriage and for some privacy for their children perhaps the Gosselins should call it a wrap.

And that's my take on that.

friday afternoon.

.

Happy Resurrection Day!

easter09.Liam, originally uploaded by olives on a monday.

He has risen!

easter. max& ev., originally uploaded by olives on a monday.

4 months.

Yup.
The L-man is 4 months already.

...and yes my floor is messy.

something about the arches....

Why do old people LOVE Mcdonalds ice cream so much?

Today the boys and I were running a few quick errands and as we drove by the golden arches I saw an elderly man getting into his Oldsmobile Cutlass {definately defined as an old person car} with two ice cream cones.
It touched my heart as I saw him hand over the cone to his {what I assumed to be} wife. Am I not so sentimental and sweet? :0
I wish I had my camera...WHY oh WHY did I pick TODAY to NOT have my camera with me. {I've been trying to be better about taking a camera with me everywhere, just in case.}
Back to my point...
Have any of y'all noticed the insane amount of elderly {people over 60} who LOVE the golden arches ice cream?
This is just speculation but I think it may have something to do with the price.
Thoughts?
I mean don't you ponder on these things each day?

g-diapers

Oh I know you have all been waiting with bated breath to hear how the new system is going.

First of all is Liam's bum not the cutest little thing? I mean look at that green bum!!! I digress.

Here is the new system:

I'm using g-diapers.

First of all, I bought a starter kit which came with 2 g-pants (cloth) and flush-able inserts for $25. (I also had a $5 coupon and free shipping). It is a good way to start off and see if you even like the system, because if you don't it's not like you wasted tons of moola on it.

The g-pant has a snap-in liner which you place the flush-able in. Now here is where I'm saving the green (while being green)... when at home, I'm using cloth inserts. I found cloth inserts to fit the g-diapers and so when Liam needs a change at home I use the cloth inserts and clean the soiled one right away. No stinky buckets!

For trips outside of the house, I bring the flush-able liners, which are also biodegradable if you throw them away which I do if I'm somewhere and the toilet system looks a bit iffy.

I've signed up to recieve a case of the flush-ables every three months which should be enough for my needs. The cost of the case(128 flushables) where I ordered it from is $48. and free shipping. So roughly, $16.00 a month for my diapering system.

So far, so good. Everything is going on how I planned it. GOLDEN! I've learned how to use the g's so that we have no leaks, and the cloth/flush-able system is working well for me thus far. We are taking a trip next weekend, so I will see how it works while traveling.

Never say Never. How true is that little phrase?

So true for me. I NEVER thought I would do anything but disposables, I didn't think I could commit to anything else and lets face it, I'm just plain lazy a lot of the time.
So, even though I say I will NEVER be pregnant again, I suppose I should never say never...

but NO.

I'm not pregnant.

Sheesh...a little too fresh in my mind still people! I'm not that crazy!

who me? I'm still the same old g.

So my friend Melody SOMEHOW convinced her husband Chad to do the cloth diaper thing but I was still not convinced. And since she received them last week, it's all the rage. :) Don't get me wrong I don't mind hearing about them but I swore cloth diapers off the moment I caught a glance at a Mom changing one before I had children of my own. It looked complicated and just plain messy. I just want to change the babe and get that nastiness outta there. You know what I'm sayin'? As long as we can afford it I'm NOT into the cloth thing.

Here is the thing, I hate to admit it but cloth diapers have come a LOOONNNGG way. Gone are the pins and wrapping this way and that, soaking diapers in buckets and so on. Sure, there are Moms out there that do that but this Mom can't. Mucho Kudos to those who can, it just isn't in me.

So, Mel whips out her newest baby purchase to show to me and I have to admit I was {pleasantly} surprised.

I went home and spent the next day researching...and we are doing it.

I've ordered a starter kit, and we'll see how it goes. It isn't entirely cloth diapering but it IS way more environmentally friendly and in the end will cost me considerably less that disposables...I'll let you know the brand I chose, my method and how it works after I receive my shipment.

I cannot believe I'm giving this a go. I NEVER thought I would.

Never say Never I guess.

Thinking Green over here.

more to come...

ello.

ello., originally uploaded by olives on a monday.

the L-man (aka. GIGS)
is over 3 months old.
Whoa.

House Hunters.

Let's talk about HGTV. The home and garden channel(although I'm not sure where the garden part of the channel is) but I want to talk specifically about the show House Hunters.

Although I'm not sure how much I REALLY love that show, because the whole time it is on Justin and I are like, "what is with these people?"

Let me explain:

If you have never seen the show, the host, Suzanne Whang, or a few times hosted by Star Jones (here is where I shutter and barf) starts of the show talking about the person or persons buying a new house. They always have cheesy clips of the couple and the "problems" they have in their current living situation. Usually a family is buying a bigger home because they need more space, but every so often the biggest "problem" is the squeaky refrigerator door. I mean really. A whole new house for that? Ever hear of WD-40?
This is just the first five minutes of the show. We then proceed to go "with" the buyers to visit 3 potential homes (one of which they will buy) and their Realtor...who is almost always overly enthusiastic about being on the show.

As you "visit" these homes with the buyers, these things almost ALWAYS happen within the course of the show.

1. First Impressions.

They walk in the front door and either fall immediately in love or hate with the home. Now I know first impressions are important, but you HAVE to see the whole house before you can really make a decision, right? The thing is often times people hate a room because of the paint.
Ummm...Guess what? Paint costs about $20 a gallon. The only other things you need are; something called a paintbrush and your hands. They even give you a stir stick for FREE! It kills me when people act like a paint color on the walls will make or break their decision. The Realtor almost always says "you can paint it" and they roll their eyes and sigh like they are the absolute laziest people on earth. I mean painting a room isn't my favorite thing to do either, but if it enhances my living space it is worth it.
Maybe you shouldn't own a home then you lazy bum!

2. the Extras.
"Look at that A-MAZE-ING crown molding. It's awesome."
Yeah, crown molding is nice and all but CALM DOWN.

Then they walk into the kitchen and practically start hyperventilating.
"Stainless Steel!!!!!!!!!"
It's like a major let down if there is anything but. I mean I get it, I like stainless steel appliances too, but again, it is not going to make or break my decision in buying a home.

Layout, flow and overall charm is what sells me...not the appliances and crown molding.

3.The Master Bedroom.

Um, how much space do you need for a bed and a dresser?
" I think this will fit our yacht we were planning on putting in here, and our furniture. It's a bit small though."

I mean people expect their master bedroom to be as big as their living room. Still trying to understand that one.

Bedroom for sleepy sleepy people.

Why would you want two living rooms ?
Then, if there is no Master Bath they about DIE.
AND.... if there is a master bath if there is not two sinks how will they cope?
Sheesh people,heaven forbid that you and your significant other need water at the same time? I mean you can't wait 2 minutes while your husband brushes his teeth?
Now two toilets...I could go for.

And why OH why does the husband ALWAYS get in the bathtub to "test" it out?

4. The closet jokes.
EVERY. SINGLE. STINKIN. EPISODE.
"I think this will fit all MY stuff honey...tee-hee-hee."
Seriously? The massive walk-in closet which could potentially be another room will only house your things?
" You can have the guest closet honey."

I mean I feel like I'm watching newlyweds. BLEECH. You know they are still in that puppy love stage making the lamest jokes and the rest of us have to sit there at take it...anyway.
UGH. Enough with the lame closet jokes. It's not even funny. At all.

5. The PARTY!

Ok. So at the end of the show, (after a look at three homes) the buyer(s) decide which home they will buy and then they fast forward to like 4 months after they moved in to check in to see how they have decorated the place and enjoy it.
It CRACKS me up to no end when the homeowners throw a party that is put at the tail end of the show and the people attending are their neighbors (who they clearly do not really know) maybe their parents and their realtor.
Now that is what I call a rockin' party.
All I know is that if I go on House Hunters I'm going to be totally awesome, with my witty comments, hilarious jokes and you can bet I'm going to throw a party and invite like 90 people. Yeah, it will be the best House Hunters.
EVER.

cars

Here's one for you....

Today in the car Maxwell asks:
"Mommy, how did Liam get out of your tummy?"
Uhhhhhhhhhhhh...

“Hi, Billy Mays here!”

image:www.factpile.com

Oh you know him.
The Blue shirt, the very distinguished and distinctive beard, and that shout at you approach to promote products guy.
Here are a few of the products Billy has endorsed:
Oxi clean, Orange Glo, Kaboom, Engrave it, Handy Switch, i Can, Fix it, Bloomin' Onion maker, Easy off Bam!, Mighty Mend -It, Mighty Puddy, Mighty Shine, Gem it, Gator Grip, CLR, Lint B-Gone, Hercules Hook, Awesome Auger, Steam Buddy, ZOrbeez, Big City Slider Station, The Ding King, Be Dazzler, Zip wrench, Spacesaver, Steam Buddy, What Odor?...and there are more!

Here is the thing.
Can he really be THAT excited about ALL these products?
Apparently, Billy can.
But Billy better watch out.
There is a new guy on the scene, and he is just as excited as Billy.
If not more.
He goes by the name of Vince Offer.
Sham-wow guy.
Honestly Billy, I think Vince is really a one-hit wonder.
I mean who spends $20 a month on paper towels anyway? And those buggy eyes, yikes!

ShamWow is just a cheap knock-off of the original, Billy endorsed, Zorbeez. Apparently, Vince can't find an original product of his own to sell, therefore reducing him to selling cheap Chinese knock-off's (oh, how could I forget, ShamWow is made in Germany) of Billy's originals.
Watch out though Billy he has some crazy tactics, taking infomercials to new levels. But you are still DA man.

Who da man? You da man!
But Billy remember, you cannot do this forever,

so Vince is standing by to take your order.

AHEM.

I mean job.

last night.

Last night we made a trip to the emergency room. Justin and I were watching old videos we had taken in years past and Liam began to have a coughing fit and it wasn't stopping. I felt his chest tightening as I tried to calm him, and panic began to seep in.

Justin took him while I called my Dad. He could hear him and told us to take him to the ER. Justin got Maxwell & Evan from their room and into the car while I continued to try and get the coughing to stop with tears stinging my eyes. I consider myself to be a very optimistic person but I was very nervous about his breathing stopping.

The hospital is fairly close to our home so we were there in under 10 minutes, although it seemed to take an eternity.

As Justin dropped us of at the emergency entrance, I swaddled my babe as best I could, and jumped out of the car into the chilly air. The cold seemed to help him out a bit and as I entered the hospital sad, dark memories invaded my mind.

The last time I was in an emergency room like this was just over 7 years ago, this very month. It's actually hard for me to believe it's been that long since Jared's accident. The sad, long faces I looked at were eerily familiar as I clung Liam close.

His coughing had stopped for a moment as I filled out a form, but soon started in again which indicated the receptionist that he needed to be seen straight away.

Soon enough his lungs were cleared and he was deemed fine. He has a pretty severe ear infection which they gave us medicine and a prescription for,and they told us to just watch him, and keep him home to heal.

What a relief.

My very dear friend, Melody whom I love very much offered to pick us up as Justin took Maxwell and Evan back home, since he had just dropped Liam and I off and if in case we needed to stay at the hospital we would cross that bridge when we came to it, and I'm thankful we never did.

Today I'm thankful that Liam is fine...and even more thankful that I have a faithful and unchanging God who is glorious and to be praised no matter what may have happened last night.

Everyday food.

This cold is kicking my behind. UGH.

But I thought with all my lolly-gagging around the house I'd share some favorite recipes as of late.

Martha NEVER ceases to amaze me. I mean the woman does it all, and it's all good too. Granted she has a team of experts helping her, but still. She pretty much rocks. I dig Martha. A couple years ago my Aunt Sue got me a subscription to her Living magazine and with it came a gift subscription to Everyday Food. I absolutely LOVE Everyday Food. Every month (or sometimes every 2) I look forward to getting my precious magazine filled with tasty recipes. I page through, mark the ones I want to make and when I plan out our meals I get most of my recipes from Everyday Food. I'd say I use her magazine for about 60% of my cooking.

You can find ALL of the recipes on her website...www.marthastewart.com but I love getting the magazine which is only $12 a year. You can get a deal if you get Living and Everyday Food as well.
Her website is definitely worth checking out, which I assume most people have unless they have been living with their head buried in sand...but she has TONS of recipes on there, and I have yet to try one I haven't liked. She also has tons of craft and organizing ideas. Like I said, she rocks.
Anyway, here are a few recipes we've enjoyed recently. Click on the recipe title for the link to the recipe.

image:marthastewart.com

Healthy Banana- Blueberry Muffins.
These are a favorite Saturday morning breakfast at our house. They are moist and fluffy. The first time I made them I didn't have wheat germ so I left it out, and they still turned out really good.

image:MarthaStewart.com

Individual Pizzas with Pecorino, Arugula, and Tomatoes

These are great "lighter" pizzas. I've used different cheeses, and I've also used whole wheat crust (I get at Whole Foods) or you can make the whole wheat crust recipe on Martha's site. Either way, this pizza makes a great Sunday afternoon lunch.

image:marthastewart.com

Vegetable Lasagna.

This was so INCREDIBLY easy, and quite tasty.

this week.

I warned you. This post isn't pretty. Or very interesting for that matter.
Things to be covered:
1.sickness.
2.home ownership.
3.fatness.
4. realization

Good times.
1. sickness:
Besides that fact that we've hacked up a lung or two this week, nobody is currently residing at the hospital.
I'm thankful for that.
Poor Liam had a rough night last night. He woke up crying, there was no consoling him as he coughed and cried while enduring a fever of 101. In turn I got little sleep last night as well. I think I have an ear infection. Um...excuse me but I'm too old for ear infections? Maxwell is a little over dramatic about coughing, and Evan has even slowed down a bit, but not enough to put a WHOLE ROLL of toilet paper in the toilet. I mean what is this kids obsession with the toilet? You would think he'd want to potty train, but we have only gotten him to go on it a few times, I don't even want to tell you how many times I have clean up after him when I put him in underwear for the day. GROSS.

2.Home ownership.
Oh yeah, it's a blast.
Don't get me wrong I'm SO grateful to have a house, but here's a list of all that has broken in the past month:
-the dishwasher.
-one of our hot water heaters.
-the garbage disposal.
-the Heating unit (which cost us...gulp, $3500.)
- the refrigerator (ok so turns out it wasn't broken, someone just left the door open overnight)
... not minor things that we don't use EVERYDAY!
It's ridiculous I know. I mean it is a luxury that I have ANY of these things really.
Just frustrating that I may have to sell a kidney to pay for everything.

3. Fatness
My emotions have been all over the place lately. I know Justin is thrilled with it. He has been amazing though. He is a pretty awesome husband.
But really...
Going from 2 to 3 kids has been...exhausting.
It really is astonishing to me.
It's strange. I can hardly remember what I did five minutes ago. In fact, I have NO IDEA what I was doing 5 minutes ago.
In a way it feels like old hat, I know what I'm doing for the most part, this is my third baby, but jeez Louise it's a lot of work.

They say with each pregnancy it gets harder to lose weight after baby.
Whatever.
They also say that you might keep 5-10 lbs of what you were before you were pregnant.
Whatever to that too. Because I certainly do not plan on it.
OK, at the ripe old age of 28 I finally see that I will never be that super cute skinny girl that looks fab. in anything she puts on.
Or be over 5feet 4 inches tall.
I also will most likely NEVER run a marathon...or run in any race for that matter.
It sounds nice. I like concept of running and I'd like to be a runner but I'm not.
I've tried here and there, and for some reason I seem to forget I have the knees of a 90 year old, and running reminds me of a soccer injury from high school.
I had to be CARRIED off the field. CARRIED.
That was embarrassing.
Some girl knocked me off my feet which were planted solid on the ground.
I could not get up...would I ever walk again?
Turns out I was just a wimp...now with permanently damaged knees.
SO running isn't my thing. But I love being outside, and come spring the boys and I will be out. That should help in the exercise department.

Anyway, back to the baby weight loss.
The thing is...
Wasn't I just here?
Didn't I just have a baby and have to lose weight yesterday?
Oh, yeah I did. TWICE.
Well, it wasn't yesterday. I mean my kids are 2 years apart.
I don't know. The weight seemed to come off easier after I had Evan.
With Maxwell I was a certified grade A cow the end of my pregnancy...and I'm pretty sure I as afterwards for awhile too.
Those pictures have been BURNED.
And for any of you out there who may have some pictures of me between June and November of 2004...GET RID OF THEM.
My poor husband has had to listen to me complain on a daily basis, and I always shoot down his endless compliments.
I'm a jerk.

You know what the funny thing is though...
I've realized that I haven't been as diligent about being in the word...and in turn this has effected me.
eh, Hello.
LOW and BEHOLD here is my problem.
God has an AMAZING way of showing me how worldly I am.
My cousin sent me this link.
I cried.
I'm so ridiculous.
I need Christ.
Bottom line...I need him more, to glorify and enjoy him.
We all do.
End of story.

monday.

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

We certainly did not miss church yesterday because we were all sick.
We also are still not sick today.
And little old Evan did not pee all over the playroom floor this weekend because someone(ahem, NOT ME) forgot to put a diaper back on him after I had changed him.
Not me.
Liam most certainly did not have the blowup of a lifetime right after I had gotten him all ready for bed.
Evan most definately did not put 3 die-cast nascar cars down the toliet this morning. I did not put my hand in a toliet to fish them out.
I did not do this over the weekend.
NOPE not me.

4

derby , originally uploaded by olives on a monday.

Here’s the rules . . .

1. Go to the 4th folder where you keep your pictures on your computer.
2. Post the 4th picture in the folder.
3. Explain the photo.
4. Tag 4 fellow bloggers to join in the fun!

This picture was taken the day after the 2007 Kentucky Derby. It was an amazing time. In the picture is me, Uncle Mark and Aunt Grace who lovingly took Justin & I, and Justin's parents to the derby. It was an AMAZING experience.

I tag my mother-in-law, Megan, Melody, and Ashleigh.

Dad...DO NOT scroll down.

nosey 033, originally uploaded by olives on a monday.

Yep. This polish gal got her smeller pierced.

Yeah. I did it.

I took a picture of Target carts.

You dig?

Ganggeang Lay pants

Packages from overseas are just so fun. I mean it's just a boring ol' box, but I just think it's so fun.

This particular one is all the way from Bangkok, Thailand! Some rockin' new fisherman pants for spring.

I LOVE them. Thank you to
NUNU.

table.

When we got married we got this old (and free) table. The table is nicely crafted, it is a nice solid table, but the chairs are less than stellar and lets face it not my style but I have to admit having the arms on them is kinda nice. Anyway, no matter how much I cleaned and scrubbed the table it looked like it was still dirty to me. I resorted to using tablecloths a lot. Still not sure of my feelings about those. ANYWAY... I finally decided after 7 years of owning the table to paint it. I mentioned it awhile back and the consensus was to paint it black.

Here it is before:And after:

... and all it took was a weekend and about $12.

Happy LoVeS day.

I've decided it's time to utilize my mantel more. Mantels are fun!
Mommy's littlest pirate...Captain Heartbreak. HILARIOUS.
Yeah, I know. There are about a KABILLION screen tees out there, I could vomit, but there are some pretty hilarious ones.

Thanks to you Mom for the Valentines package. The boys are in LOVE with the play-doh letters.

Happy Valentines Day y'all!