I should blog today.
There is so much going on in my head that I want to share. Some of it is still Top Secret and I'm not at liberty to share yet. Hopefully soon. Hopefully this week. Hopefully.
A lot of what's going on in my head focuses on my own insecurities as a wife and mother and daughter of God.  I have been getting online in the wee hours of the morning (6:30) and reading Conference talks from the last conference. So far they've all been geared towards these insecurities. Not a bad thing, it's helping me to improve my thoughts and actions.
As I was reading this morning my thoughts wandered to an old boyfriend of mine - one that I thought I was supposed to marry. I didn't marry him. In fact, while we were dating he was writing his old flame who was on her mission and he received in the mail a ponytail from her. (Weird, I know.) She had told him she cut her hair and he didn't believe her so she sent it to prove it (with a picture). I remember him being out of sorts with that (not the weirdness of getting hair in the mail but the fact that it was HER hair not attached to anything aside from the rubber band holding it together). I thought, at that point, "He's not over her and he's using me as a distraction until she gets home." And the sad part about that - I was fine with it.
I was fine with being used by young men. He wasn't the first but he was definitely the last (as I met and married Popeye shortly after that).
Why? Why was I fine with that? Why didn't I see the potential that was in me as a daughter of God? An heiress to a kingdom? Of noble birth?  I had looked at modern-day princesses and yearned for being royal. Why didn't I see it within myself?  And why did I allow myself to be treated with such disrespect? A princess should NEVER be treated in such a way!
So after this train of thought this morning, I started thinking of my own girls.
What can I do differently with them to help them understand these things so they don't make the same mistakes? How do I help to prevent the heartache that is associated with bad choices and low self esteem? How do I build their self esteem without their becoming cocky, self righteous or bratty?
And then with my boys - how do I help them to treat young women with respect, dignity and reverence even? How do I help them realize what these young ladies mean to their Heavenly Father?
These are overwhelming thoughts for me today seeing that my kids are getting outside of the molding stage of life and I feel I've missed that chance with them.
Suggestions welcome because I'm drawing a blank.

Tuesday Tip!

Okay Friends!
Last week I did a little workshop on cleaning and organizing for the Relief Society. A question was asked, "How do you get the stink out of your bathroom?"  Well, my bathrooms don't stink after I clean them, so I'm not sure what the problem is.
HOWEVER, a friend told me today what she discovered was the cause of her stinky bathroom.
She cleans the walls behind the toilet (baseboards, too) - so that wasn't the problem.
Her problem was actually her shower curtain!
I don't have a shower curtain in my bathroom so I wouldn't have even thought of that.
So she took it down, threw it in the laundry with a little bit of bleach and VOILA! A sweet smelling bathroom!
Do you have a stinky bathroom?  Maybe this is the trick for you!!!
Happy cleaning Everyone!

Ciao!!!

You know when you have good news to share but you're not allowed to share it yet?
yeah, I'm there right now. I'm giddy - completely excited!!!  I CAN NOT WAIT until I'm allowed to share it.  Ooooooooh........

Okay - moving on.
Popeye put in for an ADT in Italy!  ITALY!!!  How freaking awesome will THAT be, huh?! 4-6 weeks of glorious Tuscan deliciousness! And I'm not talking about the pasta. Oh the pasta. But the sights and sounds and culture. I've always wanted to go there!
He has a slight issue with one of his teeth and he's afraid that it will keep him from going. But IF he gets to go, it will be in a matter of weeks.
While I'm not too keen about pulling single motherhood again, the money involved in an ADT of that length is ENORMOUS compared to what he usually gets; and what he's pulling in now (snicker snicker).
Keep your fingers crossed for this one! I WANT him to go.  And it will be during summer break - so I can go travel with the kids and do fun things and see good friends!

Okay - so bring on the hat orders so I can do that.
Oh yeah, and one more thing. This Thursday I am teaching a workshop on cleaning and organizing. I'm not that organized right now but I've found some sites that will help me out with that. I'm uber excited about the workshop. I'm giving door prizes for those on time. I'm cool like that.
And so - I was looking through my blog archives of Tuesday Tips and realized - I HAVEN'T DONE A TUESDAY TIP IN AGES!!! gasp!!!
I'll be doing that again. I miss that. :)

Anyhow. It's Sunday, I'm in my jammies, Popeye's in Cheyenne, the kids are in trouble - and there you go. Tomorrow is another day of Insansity (the workout and the mental state) and I have a showing tomorrow night at 6:00. What the? Why 6??? What an inconvenient time for me. So I'll be heading to WalMart for my door prizes tomorrow...

Time to clean up from dinner. Until later, Peeps! Have a great week!!!

Royalty in the Royal House

Grand Duchess has a thing for the barbie-sized princess dolls. A few weeks ago I saw that Target had their Disney Princess Shimmer Doll Set on sale for $30. Grand Duchess had over $50 sitting in her piggy bank, so I dipped into it and bought it for her. The princesses all come with removable shoes, crowns and gowns.
She has been in heaven ever since.  Naked princess heaven.  Yes, the dolls are now naked. Grand Duchess undresses them and waves them around the house, hair flowing in all their naked glory.
Princess Monkey Eyes bought the Princess Jasmine from Grand Duchess and is so upset that Jasmine remains naked.
I think it's kinda funny, this little fetish that she has. However, these dolls have figures that would make even the most confident supermodel jealous. I hope that she keeps those girls covered up by the time my boys start noticing things like that.

Wake up to a little hand poking you and high-pitched voice saying, "Geh me seeyal (cereal) Mom." So you roll out of bed (eyeing husband who's still lying on the other side) and get the little darling some cereal.
You go into the bathroom and hear, "Mom are you in there?" "Yes, I'll be out in a minute."  You exit the bathroom to be greeted by another child wanting breakfast. 
You oblige.
Eventually Husband joins you in the kitchen because he could smell the scones frying.  Normal morning conversations ensue with, "Get on your church clothes." and "Find your shoes." and "Please let me brush your hair today."
The clock speeds on and you realize you have 20 minutes to get ready for church and you've only JUST begun doing your hair which will take another 25 minutes because you washed it last night and went to bed with wet-head and now you've woken up to a bird's nest for hair.  Husband tells you to finish getting ready and he takes the kids to church without you.
Hmmmmmm - staying home seems mighty tempting right about now. Quiet. For three hours. Very tempting.
But, knowing you'll be missing out on some prime motherhood doctrine if you don't go, you finish getting ready for the day. Put on the make up, don the new outfit you just made/purchased and all your fun bling that you discovered the week before - you're set to go.
You look smashing, like a mother who has it all together (aside from being late to church)!
You arrive at church 30 minutes late and missed out on the lesson on tithing in relief society. (Why have a lesson on motherhood when it was given the week before - guilt trip included.) Everyone loves the new outfit and questions about the changes in your life that are going on.  Sacrament meeting wasn't filled with the "I love motherhood" talks that were expected. Instead they were filled with talks on faith and teaching children faith.  It was, uplifting.  And instead of the standard carnation you get a CD of instrumental hymns focusing on the Savior.
You go home to the munchkins fighting and wanting this and that and everything else. "Mom, can I have that chocolate I gave you?" "Mom, can you get me..."
Husband still hasn't said "Happy Mother's Day". There is no card or flowers. A few extra kisses in the kitchen amidst the chaos come and go. But that's it.

I wonder if my mother dreaded this day as much as I do.  I'm going to ask her today.
Happy mother's day to all the wonderful mothers out there. I learn so much from so many. I just wish I applied it all better.
And I'm really mad at myself for letting Mother's Day sneak up on me like it did. I didn't even get the opportunity to get anything for my own mother!  So I'll have to do some shopping this week and send it to her belated - like always.

Could you tell that Mother's Day makes me feel less than mediocre? I think I'll curl up and sleep for an hour or two.
If the kids will let me.