Only A Blogger

I have been busier than a one legged man in a butt kicking contest, making arrangements to get an ultrasound and MediCal for the girl I am mentoring. We have an appointment today at 10am at Alternate Avenues to get the ball rolling. They will talk to A about having an adoption plan, refer her to a doctor where we live, let her see the baby through ultrasound and many other things.

Then we have to come back home and lay out our six month plan. As I was creating the skeleton of our six month plan, my husband walked over to the table to help me brainstorm. When he saw my list of To Dos, he cracked up laughing. "What?" I couldn't understand what I had written that would be of comical value. "Only you!" he answered in hysterics. "Only me what?" I was getting impatient. "Only you would make 'create the blog' part of your to do list for having a baby!" Surely that can't be true...right?

Any obsessed blogger would incorporate the use of a blog into every single aspect of her life, right? I'm not the only one, right? RIGHT? (insert chirping cricket sounds here.)

www.familymattersuniversity.com

Making A Mommy

Sometimes when doors get closed in our lives, we feel disappointment or a sense of failure. I have struggled with these feelings lately. I recently realized that some of the things I had chosen to take on, were not working out the way I had hoped. It was a harsh reality, but now I understand why.

Fear not...The Innsane is not one of those things. I will still be blogging and doing The Classy Closet. They are my passions and I feel like I am utilizing my gifts in these areas, while still being able to keep my kids the #1 priority that they should be. I had to cut out some other business things and it was not easy. Like I said, though, I can see why it had to happen. I got a call last night that will change my life.

The call was from a girl who I know. She is young....and pregnant. She has no boyfriend/husband/partner to speak of. The father of the baby is suddenly MIA. Her parents do not care enough to get involved. She is already four months along and in no way prepared to have a baby. She asked for my help. My bleeding heart leaped with joy as I realized that God was handing me a situation that I am well equipped to handle. Of course, I offered to help in every way possible. She seemed relieved. My husband said that she definitely came to the right person.

From now until May, I will be mentoring this girl and making a mommy out of a teenager (well....technically, the baby will be doing that, but I will prepare her for that transition.) I will also act as her labor coach. We are getting her set up with Medical, scheduling an ultrasound and making lists of what needs to be done before May. In the midst of all of this, I felt mind mind spark. I had an idea of how to use this situation to reach out and possible help others. I am now creating a blog that chronicles the journey to making a mommy out of this girl.

I will be reporting our progress, our lessons and milestones before and after her birthing day. We will share our thoughts on the journey, our fears and everything else that happens. I am hoping to find sponsors for the blog. I intend to have a bloggy baby shower for her...although I'm not sure exactly how. I am really hoping that the blog will be something that other girls can read and derive some hope from. Maybe it will inspire other moms to mentor a girl who may be need of some mommy lessons. Heck...I am grateful that I had so many sister in laws to help me. Otherwise I would have been a clueless basket case!

I'm off to get the ball rolling now. So much to do. We're having a baby!! I will post the link to the blog when it is ready. Have a wonderful day!

www.familymattersuniversity.com

Shitballs: 10th Birthday Edition

I have exactly one month until my daughter turns 10 years old. Marlie was promised a special birthday celebration for all of the hard work and devotion she has given to our family. I am fully aware that Marlie was depended on like an adult, at times. She has helped care for her younger siblings, out of the goodness of her heart. As a thank you for being such a wonderful daughter, Daniel and I had a special night planned for her and some friends...

Until tonight, when I saw the message on the Libby Lu site, apologizing for the stores impending closure. All locations will be selling out of their inventory and preparing to close their doors. Why should it matter so much? It was the one place that Marlie has been begging to go to, ever since it opened. Sure, we could do girly makeovers at home, but it just will not be the same. I know that she was holding back tears as I explained that we needed to find a new venue. She is a very understanding girl.

Now I am in a panic, trying to plan out a somewhat as fabulous as a Libby Lu party and praying that I figure out something in the next few weeks.

www.familymattersuniversity.com

Thoughts Inspired By My Camera Phone

I have found an upside to having a stomach bug. I can blog all day long from my couch! I can also do things that I normally neglect, like clean out my camera phone. Here are some of my favorite pics that I had forgotten about:

This discreet little plastic surgeon's office is located in an Asian neighborhood near my grandma's house. The Asian culture is very straightfoward...too much so sometimes.

Basic rule of childhood: When trying to frame a sibling by writing his name at the scene of the crime, never choose the sibling who cannot yet write.

Question of the day: Do people see this and order anyway? We peeled out of this fast food restaurant drive thru after reading this on the window.

Oh...and my last thought for the day:

I applied for a Target checkcard and all I got was this lousy credit card!

Damn you Target, with your cornucopia of wonderful deals and 21.99%

APR!!

www.familymattersuniversity.com

You Are Invited:

It's a shindig you won't wanna miss! My girl, Danielle, is opening her new site, HauteCowgirl and we couldn't be more excited for her! Please join us on November 24th @ 7pm (EST) for a site warming party on Twitter. Since Mr.Linkey is down, please leave your Twitter name in the comments section to be included! You can also follow me on Twitter to keep updated on the event! http://www.twitter.com/kadiprescott

The party will be tons of fun so don't forget to be there with your spurs on! YEEEEEHAWWW!

www.familymattersuniversity.com

DENIED (ummmm...there are some really bad words in this post)

If you don't want to hear ugly profanity....avert your eyes from the post. I'm about to let loose. No....I'm serious. Shit is about to hit the fan (see? profanity.)


Why are the employees of pharmacies, the most incompetent fucks ever? How hard is it to call a customer and say, "Hi Mrs. Prescott. I'm sorry but your refill request for Prozac has been denied. You need to make an appointment with your doctor." Twenty fucking seconds....tops. If the shit for brains over at Walgreens had enough sense to get through schooling to become a pharmacy tech, you would think that they would know not to deprive a medication dependent psychopath of her Prozac, for fear of death or worse!

I am now out of Prozac and all the pharmacist had to offer was an insincere, "Sorry, we must have forgotten to call you." Sorry? SORRY???? Yes, and I'm sorry that I forgot to sharpen my dagger before I came down here and gouged your eyeballs out with it! I'm also sorry that I'm allowing my children to run amok in your department, tearing open bottles of pills and using syringes to hold you hostage while I scour your shelves for some Prozac. See? Sorry doesn't fucking cut it when you depend on something to keep you from losing your goddam mind! What was that? You want me to stop choking you so you can breathe? Oh. I'm sorry, but your request for air has been denied!

I am slightly upset right now and it isn't going to get any better when today's dose of Prozac wears off. Oh yeah...did I forget to mention that this fury is not even fueled by withdrawls? Sorry. I must have forgotten to mention that.

www.familymattersuniversity.com

This just in...

My husband bought me a birthday present.

No....you don't understand. MY HUSBAND BOUGHT ME A BIRTHDAY PRESENT!!!

Next to Obama capturing the presidency, that is the biggest news I've heard in months. No...years. Do you know how long it has been since my husband bought me a birthday present? Now, before you bad mouth him, let me say that he is a wonderful man. He is thoughtful in so many ways. He cooks, he cleans, he sends me outside to have a beer breath of fresh air when he gets home from work. How many husbands do you know send their wives out to get a moment of solitude? He is just not a present giver. I cannot hold it against him, just because I have a passion for buying and giving gifts. We are just different that way.

But he actually bought me a gift this year! I feel so bad too, since his 30th birthday party was called off on account of my going into labor. (Babies can have some really shitty timing!) So I do not feel that I deserve a 30th b-day gift. He does so much for me. He tries to send flowers when we have the money (and picks them for me when we don't.) He always gives me his poker winnings to do something for myself. A birthday gift pretty much pales in comparison to the love he gifts me with every day.

Okay....I'm done gushing. On to my real reason for posting: WHAT THE HELL IS IT??!! What kind of present did he get me? I would usually venture to guess something practical, like new Teflon pans or underwear. HOWEVER...he told me this morning that Christmas will have to be meager because of the present he bought me. WTF?? What on earth could he have purchased that would warrant a Charlie Brown Christmas tree and Dollar tree gifts? I will spend the next three days searching for clues. I will not rest until I find out!! I am offering a cash reward for any information you can give me, pertaining to my gift. (And by cash, I mean a dollar. Hey...we have to be meager, remember?)

www.familymattersuniversity.com

Flu or Fluke?

Apparently the numerous trips I had to make to my bathroom yesterday, were not the result of Sonic's chili cheese fries and large Dr.Pepper, as I suspected. No...it is much worse than a case of unsanitary food preparation. Yes, I'm talking about (insert foreboding music here) THE STOMACH FLU.

Now I am feeling bad that I forced Daniel to go back to class yesterday when he complained of a stomach ache. I really feel bad that when he threw up at school and had to come home, I didn't believe him. But the worst thing is, I grounded him when he came home and acted fine. (I take faking the flu very seriously.) Unfortunately, I don't think he was faking. He was up all night throwing up and doing the other thing that he would hate me for mentioning to the general public.

I guess I owe Daniel Jr an apology and a day of recuperation. If he was faking yesterday....then he sure is reaping what he sowed! Trenton is also in the room with a stomach ache. His, I believe, is an attempt at getting out of school. But after yesterday, I cannot be sure. I'm erring on the side of caution, but if I don't see any purging of regurgitated fluids today, he is in serious trouble!

www.familymattersuniversity.com

Use It For All It's Worth

What do you use to get your way with spouse/partner/stranger you met last night at a skanky bar and is now laying nude next to you in bed? Do you guilt the apple of your eye into doing what you want? Do you cry or you use the power of seductive persuasion (P.S.P)?

For me, it is the P.S.P. all the way! Is it wrong? Maybe. Does it work? Hell yes! When trying to convince your dearly beloved that you really need those leather thigh high boots, that you did not mean to total the car or that your blogging really is therapeutic and not an excise to avoid laundry...the best way to do so is by using P.S.P.

For instance:
Me: Honey, I really need to go to BlogHer this year.
D: No.
Me: It will be a great learning experience (snicker, snicker)
D: No. We don't have the money.
Me: It will help me monetize my blogs and make more money. You always told me that in order to make money, you have to spend money.
D: All you have done this year is spend money. When comes the part that you start earning?
Me: Right after BlogHer!
D: No.
Me: What if I get a sponsor and try to save up.
D: Then we can use your saved money to pay doctor bills.
Me: Puhleeeeeeeeease honey! This is the biggest networking opportunity for bloggers available.
D: Yes....for bloggers who have the money.
Me: What can I do to persuade you?
D: Pay off the credit cards and then save up the money to go.
Me: What if I pay off one credit card?
D: No
Me: Get sponsors for the whole trip?
D: No. You will still find a way to spend way too much money. I cannot stop you if you are in Chicago.
Me: But....
D: No.
Me: How about some P.S.P? (He knows the term well)
D: Deal. But you still have to find a sponsor.


Works every time! Hey...don't give me that look! Like you don't use bribery on your kids, guilt on your parents (to get free babysitting) and other evil but effective tactics to get what you want. Oh....you don't? Well, you should. Maybe then you'd be meeting me at BlogHer '09!

www.familymattersuniversity.com

Tres Couture Interview and Giveaway!

I am very pleased to introduce you all to Clarissa Nassar, of the Tres Couture Boutique! Clarissa joins us today for a bloggy interview and exciting Giveaway!

1. Tell us about yourself:

I am a 28 year old wife, mother & mogul in the making ;) I love all things girly, I have an obsession with organizational items and I want to save the world! I really, truly have a passion for helping others.

2. How did you birth such a wonderful idea for a boutique?

My church has a fundraiser type of thing...our Pastor gave us $5 to use to make something and raise money to help a needy family. I used my $5 to make handmade cards {I love to scrapbook} I kept turning the money over and at the end of the 4 weeks, I had raised over $100.00 and decided to go for it! I felt like I was truly shown that I could use my God given talents to make money while helping others. I started off by making wallets and embellished tees and quickly learned how to sew more difficult patterns and now, here I am! I still donate a portion of my proceeds to worthy causes like Casa Teresa in Orange, CA. {my hometown} and Girl Scouts of America.

3. How did you handle the move from CA to NY?

It was very difficult for me, I cried for a few weeks! I didn't have my sewing machine yet, so I started fiddling around with hair bows and knitting. The week I stopped crying {lol} was the week that I was contacted by a PR company that wanted to gift my blankets to celebs! Jessica Alba was my 1st celeb who received one of my blankets and she was super sweet and sent a Thank You card! The move actually has been awesome for my career, there are a lot of opportunities out here in NY for crafters!

4. What do you contribute to your success?

God, my very supportive husband {he was my initial "investor"}, and my family & friends! There were times when I just wanted to throw in the towel because of various obstacles but, my TEAM of support really pulled me through it all! My continued success is all thanks to the amazing mom bloggers I have met who have spread the word about my products {see my Press page!} and my friends who are GREAT word of mouth advertisers!

5. What do you envision for your future?

I have always wanted to be a clothing designer, from a very young age I would use my Grandma's doilies and her sewing machine and create little things for my dolls, I used to sketch designs all the time. I am building a Spring/Summer 2009 collection and it will have 5-7 "Signature" pieces. I have released one piece already, the Signature Minky Outfit. The clothing line is called "Petite Trendsetters" This is really my 1st full collection. In the future {5 year goal} I want to have an actual fashion showcase of my clothing for children.

6. What is one little known fact about you?

I am an award-winning choreographer! I have coached several teams in Southern California for almost 10 years! Dancing has always been a passion of mine, I am a very artsy person, always have been. I would love to return to coaching dance teams again in the future.

Doesn't she make you feel a tad unaccomplished? Ha ha!! Clarissa is living proof that women can be mothers and successful business women too! I have in my possession, a very fabulously posh wallet from the Tres Couture line and I'm having a hard time giving it up for the Giveaway! So I think I will order one from Clarissa for the lucky reader who visits Tres Couture and finds an item that they fall in love with (and there will be many to choose from!) Each reader who comes back here and tells me what their fav Tres Couture item is, will be entered to win the wallet pictured below! For extra entries, you may Twitter this contest or blog about it and let me know that you did. Now get over to Tres Couture and do some early Christmas shopping!!

www.familymattersuniversity.com