The iGuilt

27 years and 4 days ago I arrived in all my 11 pound 2 ounce glory. (Thanks mom, you're a baby delivering rock star.) I celebrated my special day in every way possible. It was awesome. It was amazing. It was one of the BEST birthdays in my adult life!!

So naturally, I was up all night. Ridden with guilt.

My husband blew every gift he'd ever given me out of the water when he surprised me with the gift of all gifts. An iPad. Now I know that I'm pretty much the last person on earth to own an iPad. I know there are toddlers who are rolling their eyes because even THEY have an iPad. But y'all, this is BIG. This is one of those, "OMG is this real?!" moments for me! I would have been just as shocked and surprised if he had bought me a new car for my birthday. Seriously.

Why? Because an iPad is a LUXURY! It's not something we need! It's not practical, it's not not a necessity! And because we're your average middle class family with four kids, it's EXPENSIVE.

I love it.

I really, really love it. Yesterday I was literally bursting at the seams with excitement and love for it! Now? I just feel guilty. I feel like I have literally robbed my family of 3+ weeks of groceries. And I'm worried! What if something comes up and we need the money?! And I'm scared! What if I drop it and it breaks?!?!

And then on TOP of the guilt I feel even more guilty for feeling guilty in the first place! Why can't I just enjoy this wonderful gift? Why can't I just let myself feel happy and loved? Why can't I just appreciate my husband for making such a big sacrifice just to make me happy? Don't get me wrong, I'm BEYOND grateful and appreciative. It's just so smothered with guilt at the moment that it's hard to see.

One thing is for sure I will never forget how he gave it to me! He handed me a little box and I was convinced it was the Kindle Fire we had talked about here and there. I was really surprised to open it and find Grayson's shoe box inside. Was this...



Yup. That's what you think it is. Get it? Yea, it's an "eye pad".

Yes I married "that" guy. And I'm soooo glad I did! I told him that he was super mean and he brought out this...


Which ended up holding this...






And my heart did a little jig.

Tuesday Tune Like Musical Monday, but a day late...

Due to laziness, impulsiveness, and an overall lack of organization Monday Music posts are now Tuesday Tunes. (In other words, I started Monday Menus with little thought to my music posts, and I finally have a song to share, but since I already posted Monday I feel I have to put off a musical post until at least the next day.)

Well, now that it's all cleared up, I share with you, the most recent song to put a spring in my step and cause lyrically incorrect in-car sing alongs...



I'm so behind in the times that this song is probably old news. (The fact that the video was posted to YouTube 4 months ago confirms my fears.) But I share none-the-less. (I spend car rides listening to ...insert kid friendly movie here... most recently Hoodwinked. Listening to the radio is a luxury anymore. Feel sorry for me.)

PS When I pictured this video. I so didn't see....that...coming.
PPS Tuesday Tunes will probably be Muscial Mondays again. My blog apparently lacks structure. I'm okay with that. It's my blog.
PPPS I can never remember if it's PSS or PPS but I'm thinking PPS because it's stands for Post Script and Post Post Script makes more sense than Post Script Script.
PPPPS Yes I'm sure you just add more posts.

My Old Lady Inspiron

My laptop should be enjoying half priced meals at IHOP. This year it celebrates half a decade old! That's like 90 in computer years. If my laptop were a person she'd be wearing depends, navigating a hover round, and yelling into her jitterbug cell phone. It's sad.

Just so you really understand the gravity of the situation here? My geriatric laptop runs on Vista. VISTA Y'ALL!

Don't get me wrong. My old girl is still kicking. Going strong and all that. But I know it's just a matter of time before she's pressing her life alert button and taking a digital trip to pixelated heaven. I just know it. Death comes in three's and with Whitney gone no one is safe!

I just hope she can make it long enough for me to somehow replace her. (As if her hardworking dedication could be replaced.)

In a perfect world I would go for the laptop I yearn for and dream of. A MacBook pro. 17" fully loaded beauty. But seeing as how we're poor ass country folk me thinks if I'm able to get anything new it will be just another Dell. (At least I've found some decently priced models on consumer reports!)

I have nothing against Dell's, my Inspiron has been good to me all these years. Either way? It's time for an upgrade. This old lady is beginning to stroke out here and there's and it's getting pretty scary. I just hope she can hold on, like Wilson Phillips sang, "I know that there is pain, but you hold on for one more day and, break free the chains!".

My birthday is a mere week away and I'm praying for a birthday miracle. Unfortunately they're not as common as Christmas miracles, but that's neither here nor there.

If I may ask, can you please say a little prayer that my computer will end up being "The Little Laptop That Could" and last an unnaturally long time? Thank you. There's a ton of bigger things that deserve prayer more but it doesn't hurt to ask, right?

Menu Monday

This week I'm making a couple of recipes I didn't get to the other week and I'm throwing in a couple of different meals too. Oh and I can't forget an awesome dessert I'm dying to try!


This week we're having...


Crock Pot Lasagna
Throw the ingredients in and leave it to cook itself? Yes please! You don't even have to cook the noodles. We all know that waiting for water to boil blows.


"Priest" Chicken
Yea, this is one I never got to...chicken, cream cheese, and Italian dressing in the crock pot. YUM! I'm swapping out the cream cheese for neufchatel to save some fat and I'm using boneless skinless chicken breasts!


Crunchy Taco Bake
A taco bake that includes Doritos is A+ in my book! I'm using fat free sour cream, and cutting back the cheese on this one. I also plan on using as little Doritoes as possible.

Rating? I give it 4 out of 5 stars. I think I will leave out the diced tomatoes next time. Maybe incorporate salsa instead? And I think I will wait to add the Doritos. They came out burnt. But all in all it was good! Mel liked it, gave it 4.75 stars. :) Joshua liked it more than his sisters. Leah liked all but the crescent roll crust. Hailey was more picky and didn't eat much of it.


Cornbread Taco Casserole
I lurve me some Jiffy cornbread this incorporates my fave corny delight with sour cream and taco meat. It looked sooo yummy. Can't wait to try this one! I'm using low fat sour cream, and lean ground beef, and will be using cheese sparingly.


Spin Art Pasta
I've made this before and it's crazy good ya'll. I'm going to try switching out the cream cheese for neufchatel  this time so I hope it turns out as good. :)


And the super yum dessert? No-Bake Snickers Pie!!

I'm trying to make a few healthier swaps, sometimes I look back at our menu and feel like it's all junk! I always include a side of veggies, but do admit our meals tend to be quite hearty. :)

What are ya'll eating this week?

Paper Mama's Self Challenge

Hey ya'll! This is little old me...and a small peek into my world at this very moment...

Obsessing over…

Right now I'm obsessing over my master bedroom makeover. I've been stalking Craigs List, hunting mercilessly for the perfect bedding, and frantically trying to find nightstands.

Working on…

I've got SO many projects in the works! So many are sitting unfinished while I dive into something new. It's awful! Other than working on my bedroom I've been cutting squares for Hailey's quilt, trying to put together my own quilt squares into a workable pattern, I'm gathering ideas, designing printables, and thrifting for supplies for Hailey's upcoming tea party birthday, putting together props for a Valentine's session I'm doing for the girls Valentine's this year, and trying to come up with something to make my love for Valentine's! I'm feeling like I'm leaving something out...can you tell I've got a lot on my table? All in good fun though!

Thinking about…

Chopping my hair. All of it.

Anticipating…

My fast approaching 27th birthday. {GULP} I'm also super excited about Hailey's 7th birthday! We're busy these days putting together the PERFECT tea party!

Listening to…

Right this second I'm listening to Swamp People, Leah talk to herself, and Grayson and his daddy snoring! Musically speaking I feel like I haven't been listening much lately. :( I need to remedy that...

Eating…

At this very moment not a thing! But I did just scarf down a few brownie bites {YUM} and we enjoyed a SUPER yummy Mexican lunch at one of our fave Mexi restaurants after church! ^_^

Wishing…

I am really wishing I could add just a few more hours to the day. I don't feel like I have enough time to get everything done. Something is always getting neglected. If only I could do it all! And also wishing to win a family portrait from Chelsea at The Paper Mama! {I've wanted one for so long! They were on my Christmas list, remember?}

Linking up with The Paper Mama for her Self Photo Challenge! 

Bohemian Baby Couture Giveaway WINNER!

I would like to announce the winner of the one size pocket diaper from 

Bohemian Baby Couture!

Congratulations Jessica! I have emailed you and hope to hear back from you soon. :)

I would like to thank everyone who entered this giveaway! I hope to be giving away more fun stuff super soon so keep checking back!

January's Photo a Day Challenge

Last month I participated in Fat Mum Slim's 'January Photo a Day Challenge'

I made it 26 days into the challenge which is big for me! I'm of course participating in February's and I'm hoping to make it through the entire month. {Luckily it's a short month.}

I think everyone should join in on the fun and link up with Fat Mum Slim! The themes are fun and you don't need a fancy schmancy camera. I've taken 100% of my challenge photos with my phone!

Here are my 26 days of photos for January...



It's fun to take a look back on January. It seemed to just FLY by! I'm excited to see what February brings.