Southern boys...

Some of my mommy friends have been discussing the southern habit of dressing little boys in somewhat- shall we say- girly clothes.

I think it's very appropriate! Yes, I am the dissenting opinion...

See the picture of DV and I to the left <-

Isn't he cute? He doesn't know the difference between wearing the little smocked long legged bubble and wearing.... well, anything with little dogs on it.

He's too young to have many style opinions (and I know it won't be long...)

So for now, I get to dress DV to MY taste. And, I want my little boy to have a bit of a kinder, gentler little boy life before reality comes crashing in.

Plus, I love the workmanship on those outfits and I don't have any girls.

By the way, we save them for special occasions and Church...

I say- with regards to this debate- embrace your taste when dressing your boys!!! You won't have long when your opinion counts...

If this was a book I'd buy it...

Megan of Velveteen Mind posted something so poignant today.

I cried.

Every book that has ever made me cry has an honored place on my bookshelf- not too many of those.

Please read it for yourself, Victor Vito.

Thursday 13 Reasons to Start a Home-Based Business...

Toni is my favorite Thursday 13 gal- although everyone I've read is funny! Check out Toni's HILARIOUS post about poor Paris Hilton.

I have been working on starting a home based business (ever wonder why I haven't been blogging as much lately?)

So, here's my Thursday 13!

13 Excellent Reasons to Start a Home-Based Business

1. You need extra cash (So true, but what I have produced so far is extra expenses....)
2. Ability to predict finances (I project we should be profitable in 2 months max!)
3. Extra time on your hands (hmmmm.... ok so I didn't have any, but see reason 1)
4. You would like to take-over a room of your small house (my office is now an office/store room)
5. It's summer time so I won't be too busy (why did I think that?????)

OK, out with the sarcasm....
6. I love meeting new people.
7. I love designing jewelry.
8. I was getting just a little bored with the whole house cleaning thing.
9. Parties!!!! Fun!
10. Extra income so I can continue to stay-at-home with IV.
11. Jewelry counts as a business expense!
12. New clothes are required to show off jewelry!
13. Shopping at Sams Club in the business hours (how did I ever stand it before?)

Overall, I am already so happy with being a self-employed gal! But I don't have any time for TV, or novel reading, or well, anything other than being a mommy and work. I am trying to make time for IV- we had to schedule a date this week!

If you'd like to know more about my new business venture see my website: www.ditybeads.com/jennie

Have a lovely Thursday!

PS- Local gals I am having an open house (read free food and alcohol) on Saturday, June 23 from 2-5pm

Fart post

I laughed SO hard at Queen Heather's post about farting and other related activities I had to join in.

DV has taken up farting as a hobby. IV encourages it too.

Typical conversation (between IV and DV with DV on IV's lap)- IV, "Wow! That was a great one!" .... "Wow! That was a REALLY good one!" .... "WOW!!!! Practice that! You'll need it around the campfire when you're a boyscout!"

And then.... IV, "Are you pooping?" DV, "Grunt...grunt...smile"...

IV, "Honey! I think DV just pooped!"

Me.... sigh.... "Honey, I am working! Can you change him???"

IV, "Do I have to?????"

Usually, I do it because I am totally disrupted by this time anyway and what is another poopy butt to me???

Ah well, the joys of motherhood!

Adventures in Dieting...

For about 2 months now I have been on a really strict diet.

The good thing is- I have lost 20 lbs! Which is great, because I never thought I would wear the size I wore in HIGH SCHOOL again!

The bad thing about that is- I have NO CLOTHES THAT FIT!!! I am not talking my clothes fit poorly... they actually fall off- I guess that's what happens when you go from a 14/16 to a 8/9... I finally had to go out and buy a pair of pants and shorts because I needed to make a professional contact.

It's not so bad when your shirts are loose- but pants rolled at the waist or super-low riders (crotch at the knees, anyone?) do not make the best first impression.

Our budget does not allow for new clothing purchases- and I got rid of the clothes I wore in high school a long time ago- so I guess I will be making it with a very limited wardrobe... I see lots of laundry in my future.

Oh, and my diet? I got diagnosed with diabetes/pre-diabetes 2 months ago and decided to be very aggressive about it. (My dad has been diabetic for ~20 years so I know the complications first hand.) I got the book Diabetes Solution and have been following Dr. Bernstein's recommendations religiously, plus I started on Avandamet which I think has been helping a lot.

And, I've been working out a lot- for the first month anyway- but I hurt my knee so I have been taking it easier lately and I have still been losing weight.

Now I am worried that I may gain the weight back.... and waste any smaller clothes that I buy...

Bad Tree!

So yesterday was a busy day.... and there was this tree.... I swear it was in the middle of the driveway!!!

Sigh.... I bet you can guess what happened. I backed into a tree! And, not only did I bust the brake/tail light I also made a (small) dent in the side of our car.

The tree wasn't in my driveway, at least...

I had just taken DV to his kindergym class and had to run home for a picture for the local newspaper (my neighborhood association) so I parked in a neighbor's driveway. I think I should have observed the tree (actually just a little in the drive, a thin pine) while I was going into the long drive forward- but I was in a hurry.

Then, it took a long time for the photo to be taken- actually, I left before the interviewer did- and I was hurrying out to pick up IV at work. Well, the neighbor's driveway is long and sloped down but without a place to turn the car around.

I had my foot on the brake backing down and I was turned around- but obviously I missed something because all of a sudden.... CRUNCH!!!! I didn't even stop to take a look at the car but just glanced at the tree and continued on my merry way. Yes, it was that kind of day.

I get to IV's work to pick him up and go out to check the car- hoping that the crunch was all in my imagination- and I find a broken out light AND a dent... and bark.....

Sigh....... if only Explorers were made for people who are only ~5'3" (can I blame it on the car??)

Two and a half weeks!!!!

OH MY GOSH! I can't believe I actually went 2.5 weeks without blogging! I was SO busy!

At least, I have a lot to write about saved up.... more than one day's worth!

The trip to California to visit my great-grandmother went very well- excluding flying with an almost 2 year old and changing planes (with a car seat!) And, also excluding staying in an ~700 square foot cabin with 5 people- and sharing a bed with my mom... and a room with DV... and a bed with DV in the middle of every night... and the associated bruises!

The stay in Florida with my parents was great, although MUCH too busy. I got to spend some quality time with my best friend (since 9th grade!) who has a 3 month old and I remembered how much fun she can be.

All in all, it was a great time but I would do something different about plane travel.... UGH!!!

Anyone have any wisdom???