Owner: Mommy Cracked URL:http://mommycracked.blogspot.com Join Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2007 03:51:04 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: Mommy Cracked is a part-time freelance writer and full-time SAHM. Writing links, personal observations, giveaways, carnivals, and good clean fun. Site statistics:Click here
My name is Mommy Cracked 2007-11-25 02:13:00 ...and I have a blogging addiction.I recently updated my computer to IE7. I balked at doing the upgrade for the longest, and it has taken me a few weeks to get used to my navigation buttons being moved, but I finally got that hang of it and discovered this wonderful little button next to the "Home" button called "Feeds". I wasn't quite sure what this button did, but I pressed it and discovered that it would save my favorite blogs to read into a list and everytime that blog is updated, it shows the blog title in bold to let me know. Ingenious! I felt like I struck gold.I love discovering new blogs and nine times out of ten, I get hooked. So I press the button. And press. And press some more. I now have over 200 blogs in my feed favorites. Thank goodness they don't all update at the same time. There's no way I can read them all in one day, so I cruise a few and then come back later and cruise a few more. But dang...200 blogs? Do I qualify for some sort of therapy? And by Read more:Mommy
, Cracked
State of MY Blog Union Address 2007-11-24 14:35:00 I've recently run across some amazingly spot-on blog posts from other women bloggers who have been doin' the darn thing for quite a bit now. These posts just made me say "Amen!" and I wanted to flesh out my thoughts on them here. When I started blogging I was naive. Then I noticed these awesome little widgets and stuff on other bloggers' sidebars. My favorite became stat counters. I have one of my own and in the beginning I checked it obsessivly. I mean, let's get real. Almost anybody who blogs wants to know how many people read it and exactly who. I might have hated math growing up, but I'm a sucker for stats in any form, so there you go. And my stats pretty much suck compared to some other bloggers. I've seen some women bloggers who literally have thousands of unique visitors a day. Thousands. What the heck were these women saying and doing that people from all over the world wanted to read? But these women are funny. They are genuine. I can honestly see for mysel Read more:State
, Union
, Address
So Long Coach O 2007-11-24 14:29:00 We hardley knew ye.I'm not sure how I feel about this yet. Change can be good, but I know on a personal level this has to be tough for him and his family. Lord, help the Rebels. Read more:Coach
Stuffed And Stuff 2007-11-23 21:46:00 We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Cracked Daddy even got to be home for it, and we were so thankful! EB and I spent Thursday morning in the bed watching the parades and then we went to my aunt's house for dinner. The food was glorious, amazing, exceptional, etc. My aunt makes the best cornbread dressing ever ever ever. We're all stuffed. We've had our Thanksgiving naps. And besides Ole Miss losing the Egg Bowl today (it sent my dad to his bed because he was so sick over it), we had an eggcellent Thanksgiving.Now onto the stuff. I wanted to share some pictures of my aunt's house. This woman has STUFF, but she makes it look like something out of Southern Living. The tables were beautifully decorated, as was the whole kitchen. She collects old children's toys and has a whole room in her house that looks like a vintage toy store. Of course EB was in heaven, but I was a nervous wreck that he might break something.Even her yard is beautiful. Check out the bottle tree!EB had a Read more:Stuffed
Hotty Toddy! 2007-11-23 02:00:00 Today is Friday and a very special Friday, indeed! Now, I know most people consider today Black Friday, the day when holiday shopping officially begins. It's a little different down South. We still have Black Friday and some of us even stand in lines at 4 AM to get the good deals, but not me. I have to save all my energy for this afternoon. Today is Egg Bowl day!The Egg Bowl is only THE biggest college football game played in Mississippi the day after Thanksgiving. The University of Mississippi ("Ole Miss"...and MY team) plays against Mississippi State. Big rivals. Big game. Ole Miss football is famous for being the college sport of choice for three out of four Mannings. We don't know what happened with Peyton, but we don't hold it against him.I'll be watching from the comforts of home. It turned dang cold Thursday, so no way would I sit out in the elements to watch this one. I'll just relax in the recliner with a warm cup of coffee and snacks and have the best seat in Read more:Hotty
Happy Thanksgiving 2007-11-22 08:31:00 We're getting ready to watch the Thanksgiving
Day parades this morning! We'll be going to my aunt's house and then to my grandmother's. Just wanted to wish you all a Happy
Thanksgiving.Also, please go here and read this post by Karla from Looking Towards Heaven. As the holiday shopping season nears, I promise you will be glad you read it. It certainly put things into perspective for me.
How Gorgeous Is This? 2007-11-21 13:52:00 The day before Thanksgiving. In MY backyard. I just love the colors of Fall.
Shop Tobi 2007-11-21 11:58:00 If you are in the market for designer jeans this holiday season, you'll definitely want to check out Tobi. Tobi offers many, many designer brands including Seven For All Mankind and Nudie Jeans.Tobi sells so much more than just great jeans. Tobi’s site also offers beauty and grooming products, featuring such brands as Juice Beauty and Billy Jealousy, that are all the rage and more clothing by names such as Soda Blu, Loomstate, and James Perse. Tobi also offers a line of eco-conscious clothing, like Good Society and TOMS Shoes so you can look great and feel great about your purchases. Tobi has an amazing collection of party dresses and holiday gear to have you looking your best this season. You’ll also find great gifts (they even giftwrap), amazing sales, and the newest arrivals.Customer Service at Tobi is top notch. The website features Ask A Stylist, a live chat system that connects you with a personal stylist to answer all your questions and help you choose the right style
Works For Me Wednesday: My Magic Tart Trick 2007-11-21 00:21:00 I love candle tarts. I really, really love them. I also love switching out scents often, which can be a big pain when you have melted tart wax hardened in the warmer. I recently came up with my own little way of "putting the tarts back together again", so to speak, so I could alternate scents and not have crumbly chips of wax to store for another use.After using the tart warmer, I pick up the warmer with an oven mit and carefully pour the wax into a little ice-cream cup. (We buy these little individual ice-cream cups for EB to eat, and I wash out the plastic cups and save them for him to use in the sandbox, with crafts, etc.) After I pour the wax in, I set the cup into the freezer for about 15 minutes. After it hardens, I squeeze the sides and push on the bottom of the cup and out pops a perfectly formed candle tart! I store them in a Ziploc bag.No mess. I feel like I've recycled. Works
for me!Read more great Works For Me Wednesday
ideas here and add your own! Read more:Magic
, Trick
Tackle It Tuesday- Homeschooling Edition 2007-11-20 11:54:00 For those who may or may not know, I preschool homeschool my son, which you can read about here. In the short time we've been doing this I have managed to accumulate alot of great materials which I have neat spaces for, but just not too much time to maintain it all. I admit as soon as materials need changing, I've been tossing them in plastic organizing shelves and forgetting it. But the shelves have see-through drawers and the mess could no longer be ignored, so I tackled it! I organized the seasonal material in one drawer, supplies like construction paper and file folders in another, and the last drawer is sort of an "in-box" for things which eventually need to be filed into my son's portfolio. Yep, he's two and has a portfolio. Ha-ha! In any case, I finished the project and it looks so much better and I know the whole functionality part will be a big bonus.What did you tackle this week? Read more and add yours here. Read more:Tuesday
, Homeschooling
, Edition
My Least Favorite Things 2007-11-19 16:28:00 Real Life is hosting the My Least Favorite
Things carnival today and I am so happy to participate because there is really only ONE thing that I do not want my child to ever, ever, ever receive for Christmas...birthday....whenever. And yes, I am sorry to say it's a classic family board game. I present to you Hi Ho Cherry O. Whoever invented this obviously didn't have children, or if they did their children obviously always picked up EVERY stinkin' little plastic cherry EVERYTIME they played the game and put everything away in the box neatly.My hate affair with Hi Ho Cherry O began when I was 22 and babysitting for a certain family. They had two kids...and they had this goshforsaken game. We played the game. It was fun. But then I got stuck picking up a million little plastic cherries. And everytime I thought I was finished, several more appeared. I swear they multiply!In any case, we have two cats who I'm sure would just love to get their paws on those plastic cherries. We
Obviously, I have my work cut out for me... 2007-11-19 11:40:00 I have my own little Thanksgiving season tradition. Of course, we do the family thing with the in-laws and outlaws and extended family. The day after Thanksgiving is when my own little "tradition" takes place. The first thing I do on Black Friday is online shopping. I'm not brave enough to fight the crowds for those great deals. No sir, I prefer to sit on my hindparts at my computer with a steaming cup of coffee and shop online. But for those of you brave enough to go out, here's a Black Friday list of deals and you have my prayers for a safe return.Anyway, after the cyber-shopping is done my next activity on the agenda is decorating our home for Christmas. This would normally be an easy enough task because for the first 7 years of marriage my husband and I lived in an apartment. I'd just go to our super big storage closet, pull it all out, and start. I'd be finished in a couple hours, tops.In March of this year we bought our first home. We just needed more room now that
I've Been 'A Stumblin' 2007-11-18 02:36:00 I guess I'm probably the last person in the blogosphere to catch on to StumbleUpon. It's almost like an addiction. In any case, I came across this site today while "stumbling" and wanted to share it. I used to have a print out of this list but had misplaced it. If you're like me and appreciate Scripture to guide you through life's problems, then get thee to God's Yellow Pages.
Power Shopping 2007-11-17 02:06:00 So yesterday was that day around here. You know...when you've run out of everything and it's time to do a shopping trip at that big mega-store. I dread those trips. I really do. Now, I love to look at everything, but I hate having to stand in line to be checked out at that store. And my child always seems to flip out in that store. I brought in backup today. Cracked Daddy and I took EB to hell on earth. EB even got to ride around in hell in a basket. OK...a shopping cart.But, this afternoon I left EB and Cracked Daddy home while I did a little retail therapy downtown. We honest to goodness have the prettiest downtown you've ever seen for a small southern town. The neatest shops, too! So after meandering awhile I went inside the best kept secret for parents in town. The kids consignment store. I take all of EB's clothes there when he outgrows them and always end up spending the money I make there on other things. But today I scored. Big time.For $36, I came home with Read more:Shopping
Friday Felicities..,Things That Make Me Happy 2007-11-16 00:49:00 This blog meme was started by Nattie. I recently discovered her Friday
Felicities lists. Nattie passed away in June of this year, but throughout her battle with cancer she always counted her blessings and posted on her blog on Fridays the things that made her happy. I think this is a wonderful way to honor her memory and to take a breather from our busy weeks and remember how blessed we are, even with the little things. So here is my Friday Felicities list:1. RC Cola2. A husband that picks up Chinese takeout for me.3. My son and his spontaneous kisses that catch me by surprise.4. Running across really awesome blogs.5. Long bubble baths and a Real Simple magazine.6. Gorgeous fall leaves in my backyard. Reds, yellows, oranges...7. Jeans that still fit from last year.8. Things that come through just when you need it.9. Finally feeling a sense of direction after a long period of wandering aimlessly.10. Chocolate chip cookie dough.You can read more Friday Felicities here and a Read more:Happy
Thursday 13 2007-11-15 01:28:00 13 Reruns I Love To Watch on TV1. Who's The Boss?2. Mama's Family3. Designing Women4. The Nanny5. The Jefferson's6. The Fresh Prince7. The Facts of Life8. Beverly Hills 902109. The Brady Bunch10. Three's Company11. Happy Days12. Murphy Brown13. I Love LucyRead more great Thursday
Thirteen lists here.
Caterpillars Creations Candles 2007-11-15 00:53:00 I practically live in the land of soybean fields and that's exactly what Caterpillars Creations makes their environmentally friendly candles from. Soy candles are a popular choice among serious candle connoisseurs, like me, because they just last longer than regular candles. Caterpillars Creations has come out with the Roly Poly 22 oz. soy jar candle just in time for the holidays! These huge candles come in a wide variety of scent choices. I seriously counted over 60 scents to choose from! Their website also makes it really easy to shop. You can choose candles by scent, occasion, and candle style. If you sell candles in your own store, Caterpillars Creations also offers wholesale soy candle services and even a private lable option. If you know someone who loves candles, treat them to a long-lasting, wonderful smelling Caterpillars Creations candle this holiday season. Read more:Candles
Giving Thanks For Good Food 2007-11-15 00:16:00 Karla at Looking Towards Heaven is hosting the Gobble Gobble Some Good Stuff carnival. I've decided to participate and share some of our favorite Thanks
giving dishes.I have eaten every Thanksgiving dinner of my life at one house...my aunt Charlotte's. She makes the best dressing ever ever ever! Everyone brings a dish and there is literally food for days. We have the usual staples..the turkey and dressing, broccoli and cheese casserole, green bean casserole, sweet potatoe casserole (Can you tell we love casseroles??), Ambrosia, ham, potatoe salad, and every dessert you could imagine. It is the one meal I look forward to every year and the wait is torture! I'll be the first to admit I am not the best cook. I'm usually the one bringing dinner rolls, drinks, paper items. Things like that you really can't mess up. But this year, I have found a recipe for Cranberry Chutney that I'm pretty sure I can make without screwing up. Here's the recipe:Cranberry Chutney1 (12 ounce) ba Read more:Giving
Works For Me Wednesday 2007-11-13 23:19:00 OK, I'm really reaching here.No..not into my washer, although it totally looks like it. I'm reaching for an idea this week about what works for me. It came to me while doing laundry yesterday, and while I'm probably not the first to come up with this idea, I thought I would toss it out there anyway.It seems like I can't find a regular bottle of laundry detergent anymore. Everything is concentrated now. Hmph! I've noticed that when you pour the detergent in, the caps don't have that design like regular bottles that drains the detergent back in without leaving a mess. And I hate messes.In order to avoid a messy cap and detergent dripping everywhere, I hold the cap under the running water in the washing machine after I pour it in. It rinses the cap and no mess is left!Read more great Works
For Me Wednesday
ideas here.
2007-11-13 00:53:00 If you heard the Hallelujah Chorus echoing in your ears all over the world last night, it came from me!Remember last Wednesday when I posted about EB refusing to potty train?He used the potty twice last night. He really, really did!!! Not once, TWICE!!And I know ya'll just care so much about my son's toilet habits, so I thought I would share.Happy Tuesday!
And While You're Holiday Shopping... 2007-11-12 13:29:00 Do you belong to MyPoints yet? If you are going to be doing any online shopping this season, you may as well earn some great gift cards and things for yourself!I just cashed out for a $25 Target gift card. When I have to purchase anything online, I just go through MyPoints. They also send you a couple of emails a day that are worth points just for clicking a link. It really adds up quickly! Just click the banner above to join! Read more:Shopping
, Holiday
5 Unique Holiday Gift Ideas 2007-11-11 22:54:00 The holidays are getting closer and closer everyday. By now you probably already have a good idea of what gifts you will be purchasing, but you may be like me and have NO clue what to get some people. Thankfully Don't Try This At Home had a brilliant idea for everyone to list at least 5 different gift ideas that were really unique. So, here below are my suggestions.1. I think we all have that person on their list who has EVERYTHING. So, why not buy them some land in all 50 states? Too expensive? Think again! For just $19.95, Own A Piece of America will sell you the deed to one square inch of land in every state. How cool would that be to tell people you own land in EVERY state? OK, so it's only one square inch. Nobody has to know!2. This next one is for the toddlers and small ones. Winter is coming and they're going to need to let off some steam, but somedays it's just too darn cold and nasty out to go outside. The Elefun game will keep them busy and moving. It's ju Read more:Holiday
Remember Our Veterans 2007-11-11 00:39:00 Friday evening I had the pleasure of attending the Veteran's Day dinner at our local VFW post. We were treated to an excellent meal and a speech by a National Guardsman that had recently served in Iraq. He really gave an amazing first-hand account of what the life of a soldier is like on a daily basis.I know everyone in our great country has their own personal views on the war. I honestly don't care to debate that, but just wanted to remind you all that our living veterans today sure could use a kind word, a visit, or just a simple thanks for their time of service. An organization I have been involved in since I was a small child that supports veterans, their families, and the community is the American Legion Auxiliary. So many women qualify for membership through the service of their fathers and grandfathers and don't even realize it. If you're looking for a way to make a difference, I would urge you to become involved with this organization. If you need more information, j Read more:Remember
, Veterans
Saturday Song Selection 2007-11-10 02:17:00 EB heard this on his Goodnight Moon DVD and has been singing it ever since. My baby has excellent taste! Even his mommy can appreciate this one! Read more:Saturday
Christmas In Dixie Giveaway Week! 2007-11-09 12:05:00 I was born, raised, and still live in Mississippi. This holiday season, I wanted to showcase some of the fabulous products and people from my great state. These vendors have graciously donated some wonderful prizes that'll make you wanna slap yo mama! OK, not literally. It's just a saying we use when we love something so much we can't stand it.During the week of December 3-9, check here daily to see the giveaway of the day and enter for your chance to win. I promise you won't want to miss this!Grab a button and spread the word! Read more:Christmas
, Dixie
Blogs I'm Diggin' 2007-12-01 04:47:00 Here's some Saturday linky love to keep you busy. Just a few blogs I'm really diggin'.Crabmommy tells it like it is. If there's one thing I can appreciate, it's the REALNESS of being a parent.Geek Parenting is just plain 'ole nostalgic fun. Awesome!Mom To The Screaming Masses is just a great read. Love it!Antique Mommy leaves me cryin' laughing.Motherhood Uncensored is another crack-me-up. She also has a hi-larious post about Mississippi that is one of my absolute favorites. Read more:Blogs
The Discussion 2007-11-30 10:31:00 I've probably mentioned in a previous post that this Christmas will be the first that our family will be in a house. We bought our house in March of this year and have enjoyed decorating it for the various holidays. However, Christmas is going to be the doozy, I can just feel it.I personally prefer classy ourdoor Christmas decor, if there is such a thing. White lights, thoughtfully placed, a beautiful wreath on the door, etc. I have high hopes for our yard this holiday season.However, Cracked Daddy is feeling a little Griswoldian this year. He has just informed me that not only does he want to hang lighting, but that a lighted Santa will be parking his sleigh on the top of our roof and candy canes will be lining the driveway. Okay.If he so much as mentions an inflatable yard ornament I think I might catch a case of the vapors.This really ain't going to fly with me, so I'm sure this weekend we will have a discussion about this. I'll let you know who wins after the weekend is o Read more:Discussion
Thursday Giveaway~ 3ButtonsN2Bows 2007-11-29 01:22:00 I'd like to introduce y'all to my most favorite children's room decor seller. This talented young lady saved my bacon (and Cracked Daddy's money) when it came to accesorizing my son's bedroom. I had picked out an adorable bed set from Olive Kids and came across 3ButtonsN2Bows while on the search for matching prints, switchplates, and a lamp.3ButtonsN2Bows has themes out the whazoo to choose from! Don't see your child's theme? They do custom orders, too. You won't find many places that do custom work. She has diaper stackers, ceramic knobs, growth charts, valances, pillows, door signs, night lights, and just about anything you can think of to make a child's room extra special.Heather at 3ButtonsN2Bows has graciously donated this extremely cute whale peg rack for a giveaway.All you have to do is go visit her site here and come back and tell me what you fell in love with at 3ButtonsN2Bows. The holidays are coming and you can enjoy FREE SHIPPING on any item in the store. Sh Read more:Thursday
Beautiful Bows- Works For Me Wednesday 2007-11-28 02:01:00 To me, half the fun of getting a present is all in the presentation. It almost pains me sometimes to tear into a beautifully wrapped gift, especially when they have those big, puffy bows. Those puffy bows I had NO idea how to make until I read this how-to.My mom and I were admiring some gifts that a family member had wrapped. Said family member used to work in a Hallmark store and always makes a present look special. And frankly, I'm tired of buying those bags full of bows for $1.99 that get smooshed before you even make it home with them. I want pretty bows this year for our gifts, so I'll be trying my hand at these puffy bows.For more great Works
For Me Wednesday
ideas, click here. Read more:Beautiful
Dorothy Said It Best! 2007-11-28 01:12:00 There really IS no place like home!I know, I know. We were only 4 hours away from home AND we only stayed 2 nights, but I can't tell you how happy I am to be back in my own home, with my own bed, my computer, my cats....you know, the important stuff.I logged in quite a few good shopping hours while there. Want to see the beautiful Christmas displays that were in the mall?I just love me some Christmas gingerbread/candy houses, although I'm sure those were made of styrofoam or something more durable.And you know you're on the coast when you see moss dangling from the trees. Check out this HUGE, GINORMOUS tree in my aunt and uncle's yard. And it survived Katrina.But the best part of the trip was finding these.I have been searching high and low for some good, quality pillows to match one of our couches and finally found them! I am so excited about them that I am cooking up a way to convince Cracked Daddy that we need to paint the den to really set these pillows off. I have laundr
Recommend Site To A Friend
