Flashing Yellow Lights

I take it all back

flashingyellowlights@gmail.com (MiaKatia) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:02:00 +0000

Apparently I am awesome after all.

Prove it.

Will do. After my confession this morning that I forgot to buy Christmas gifts for the baby, my mother guilt got the best of me and I decided to go shopping. I snatched up the pile of printable coupons that had been sitting on my desk for three weeks now and I loaded all three kids into the car to go shopping.

All three? Why did you have Zoey?

Um well Zoey, She's stayed home sick from school this week.

So you took her out shopping?

Yeah so back to the story. I piled all three kids into the car and ran through the drive through for lunch.

What you couldn't slap together three pb&j's?

Right, well as I was sitting in the parking lot dolling out lunch to eat on the go, I checked my email and my reader.

Of course you did... addicted much?

Hahaha (umm probably) Good ol Southern Savers notified me that Kmart was having a B2G1 sale on the toys I happened to have coupons for so I headed that direction. After I got directions from Cheryl.

Wait you've lived there almost four years and don't know where the Kmart is?

Yeah, not so much. I grabbed the three toys I had coupons for.

This

This

and This

And went to check out. It came out to...

$58.97 worth of toys
-$14.99 for the promo
-$15.00 worth of coupons

I had only planned on getting one toy but I took all three coupons so I could decide once I got there. I saved $29.99 and spent $28.98. So I stayed $1.02 under budget and got two more things than I had planned on. Yes I spent $9.99 more than I would have if I had stuck to the plan and only bought one toy but hey I got three toys and stayed under the end goal.

Considering that I am horrible at couponing I think I rock. And now Blake has Christmas too.

Foriegn Languages

flashingyellowlights@gmail.com (MiaKatia) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:52:00 +0000

Let me preface all this by saying that Gift's is not a language I speak. It is kind of like my Spanish skills; I understand a decent portion of what you are saying but I can't speak it to save my life. I appreciate receiving gifts (and the time spent finding something I would love) and I have learned to enjoy a surprise, but more often than not I fall back on gift cards to give because that perfect gift eludes me.

Last night as I was wrapping all the Christmas presents, I made a horrible but not necessarily surprising discovery. I haven't bought a single present for the baby.

Not.a.single.one.

I'm pretty sure that any day now my Mommy Card is going to be

REVOKED!

They're here!!

flashingyellowlights@gmail.com (MiaKatia) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:05:00 +0000

The boys have arrived. Check out Amanda's blog for pictures!

Already?

flashingyellowlights@gmail.com (MiaKatia) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:42:00 +0000

A conversation we had while out to lunch as a family on Saturday...

Zoey (head on table): Mom I'm exhausted can I just go back to bed.
Me: We're having lunch, enjoy some family time. How late did you get home?
Zoey (still moping): Way late.
Me: Did you come straight home after the party was over?
Zoey: Yes... Well we played for a few minutes.
Me: Do you not know what time you came home?
Zoey: I don't remember, it was really late.
Me: Well maybe you shouldn't be such a party girl. Next time you just might have to stay home.
Zoey (finally picking her head up off the table): No way mom I love parties!!!

I expected these types of conversations in High School, but she is in KINDERGARTEN for goodness sakes.

I was out with my girlfriends watching New Moon which is why I didn't know when she had gotten home. She got home at 8:34 (according to Ernesto) an hour past her bed time. We told her she was grounded for breaking curfew. She didn't think it was nearly as funny as we did...

Things you might want to know...

flashingyellowlights@gmail.com (MiaKatia) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:57:00 +0000

I've been busy lately.
Really busy.
Too busy to organize my thoughts into a coherent post.
Between TG and Christmas two of the kids have birthday's.
It adds to the busy.
They deserve birthday posts, but it may be two more weeks before I get to it.
If I couldn't shop on line I would never be done in time for Christmas.
I love the internets.
I need to do laundry.
And the dishes.
I'm going to take a nap instead...

Thankful Thursday

flashingyellowlights@gmail.com (MiaKatia) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:17:00 +0000

Over - I am thankful that the day is over, it was a long one.
On Time - That I made it ON TIME (a feat in and of itself) to both Reed's preschool pizza party (good thing because I had the pizza) and to Zoey's kindergarten program (even if I never saw her because we were sitting in the exact wrong spot).
Off the list - That I was able to check hair cuts off the list. Every strike through on that list is a little victory.
Opening packages - Isn't mail the best! I received a package I was sure was going to be too late (an accessory for family pictures). But it came on time and was even cuter in person!
On the couch - I am going to go have a little unwind fest with the DVR under a warm blanket on the couch! Ahhhh.
One more day - Til I get to see my love!!!

And done

flashingyellowlights@gmail.com (MiaKatia) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:26:00 +0000

Now I remember why my sewing machine has been in hiding for four years... The idea of sewing, love it. The execution of sew, gives me ulcers (and this was an easy project).

The directions said that it would take about a half hour. I figured that since I was making five but doing it assembly line style it would take 2 hours. It took me 2 hours just to find my sewing machine manual so I could remember how to thread the bobbin. But I have prevailed and the crowns are done.

The tutorial is from Jessica at Juicy Bits.

These are for the five November Birthday's at preschool. We are having a party tomorrow for the kids. The girls' crowns are WAY cuter than the boys. So much so that I was tempted to scrap the boys and make them pink, purple, and lime green flower crowns too. Somehow I didn't think they would wear them.

Happy Birthday Caden, McKinli, Zach, Maggie, and Reed!!!

How it all started

flashingyellowlights@gmail.com (MiaKatia) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:01:00 +0000

Sister in law: "What are you doing?"
Me: "Looking at stockings on Etsy. I found ones I LOVE!!"
Sister in law: "Ohhh those are cute. What does Ernesto think?"
Me: "He is ok with me getting them, but he thinks they should come out of the present budget."
Sister in law: "That's a bunch of money. Are you going to get them?"
Me: "I don't know."
Sister in law: "Mia, don't you have a sewing machine?"
Me: "Ummm yes."
Sister in law: "Woman, put down the credit card and make them yourself!"

Ok so that might be a slight variation on the actual conversation, but the results were the same. I got out my sewing machine, which hasn't seen the light of day in say four years. I am working on a "starter project" to refresh my memory about this whole sewing business. I'm exhausted and my cutting thumb is sore. (Who gets a sore cutting thumb?) And I still have nothing to show for it. Cross your fingers that I have something for you by tomorrow or Wednesday, because by Thursday it will be to late.

Hey Cookie!

flashingyellowlights@gmail.com (MiaKatia) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:03:00 +0000

You are aware of my undying love for internet quizzes, yes? I love this one, because I LOVE COOKIES! Especially Mrs. Fields cookies :)

What is Your Mrs. Fields Cookie Personality?
Me? Well I am a...

Anybody else want a cookie? Of course you do. What kind of cookie are you?

Dressing by Committee

flashingyellowlights@gmail.com (MiaKatia) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:01:00 +0000

Hello, my name is Mia and I and I need help getting dressed. Seriously I make more out of everything, like weddings and family pictures, than I should. And hooray for me I have a blog, so you get to join me... or you could just skip this post.

Last night as we were having the nightly wind down I confessed to Ernesto that I was stumped with the family pictures. The trouble is, that the trend right now is a color palate not so much a matchy-matchy color theme. But I am not capable of dressing five people in a palate, I am barely capable of a matchy theme. Ernesto, sensing that more money spending was in order, ASSURED me he LOVED the whole matching theme and encouraged me to press on. Here are the kids outfits.

Top Row Zoey: Dress, tights, and shoes 1, shoes 2 (I prefer the silver but they are out of her size)
Middle Row Reed: Shirt, vest, pants
Bottom Row Blake: Shirt, sweater, pants

Mia Option 1: Dress, Headband (or something similar), Sweater, Shoes

Mia Option 2: Dress, Headband, Sweater 1, Sweater 2, Shoes

Ernesto on the other hand does not require a committee to dress him, therefore you will not see his ensemble in advance.

I would love your input on my outfit choices and if you go with the red dress, which sweater do you like better?

Thankful Thursday

flashingyellowlights@gmail.com (MiaKatia) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:09:00 +0000

Enough for our needs and some of our wants -- I read an article once about how to teach your kids about personal finance. The article said that when kids ask how much you make explain to younger kids that we have "enough for our needs and some of our wants". For some reason looking at it this way makes me feel very grateful. Honestly having enough for our needs is a huge gift, and getting some of our wants is truly icing on the cake.
Career Day -- I am so touched, honored, grateful that every single day this week when I have asked Zoey what she wants to dress up for on Career Day on Friday she has answered "A Mom".
Even better -- Today after school Zoey asked why I didn't volunteer to come to the school for career week. I explained that all of her friends had mom's and that her friends knew what a mom did. She said that I should come to her class and teach them how to "do it the best". I know she is biased, but she also sees me at my worst, so I am pretty happy that she thinks I'm doing ok as a mom.
Friends -- I have really great friends. Friends that answer my random questions, support my half thought out ideas, laugh at my attempts at humor, and love me -- split ends and all.
Phone calls from sister in laws -- My only sisters are in-laws and I love talking to them on the phone and texting with them. Makes my day. This weeks topics? Bangs, bacon, and Christmas socks.
86 -- days til my birthday!!! Not that I'm counting or anything...

Halloween

flashingyellowlights@gmail.com (MiaKatia) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:06:00 +0000

The Big Kids

The Little One

Trick or Treat

In Honor of...

flashingyellowlights@gmail.com (MiaKatia) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:16:00 +0000

Most of the time I put Suzanne's fantastic give-away's in my side bar. So, if you only read my blog through reader and don't actually come to my blog you miss out. But this one is special, and special to me. I wanted to make sure all of my readers found out about this one.

Suzanne is hosting a Give-Away...Give-Away. Check out her blog to nominate someone who has been affected.

It's A Party

Dear Thompson Station Grill

flashingyellowlights@gmail.com (MiaKatia) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:10:00 +0000

Dear Thompson Station Grill,

I miss you, really miss you. I'm sorry that I couldn't single handedly eat enough Fried Green Tomato Sandwiches and Chess pie to keep you open. I promise, I tried. You were a big part of my last pregnancy. Every Tuesday when I would drive back from my appointment in the city I would drop in for lunch. If I was in a hurry it would be a to go order. When I arrived your staff would hand me a to go cup of Diet Coke then refill it again when they brought my order out, which was always delivered likity split. If I had the time I ate there. They always gave me a corner table where I could eat alone in peace and quiet, but with a great view to people watch. Everyone was so friendly and kind. Remember all the times the girls got together there to celebrate a birthday or just to have a girls lunch out? I remember them too. The Grill was a perfect place for us to meet because the kids could go back and forth from the table to the little game area you had in the corner. Getting to climb all over the train across the street after we were done eating was a special treat too. If you ever reopen your doors I will be there.

Longingly,
Mia

Photo of the train across the street via Flickr by Brent. He has some great pictures of the area!

PS. Anyone else hungry for a fried green tomato sandwich?

Thankful Thursday

flashingyellowlights@gmail.com (MiaKatia) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:11:00 +0000

My Dad -- We had a conversation about my daughter the other day. My heart was full to the point that it would burst if I didn't let a little bit out. I needed someone to hear me say out loud what I was feeling. After gushing on for several minutes about the wonderful person that she is, my dad replied that she reminded him so much of what I was like as a child. Rather cheekily I replied "I've never been this wonderful." For a long moment all there was, was the humming of our cell phone connection when I heard his choked voice say, "You've always been that wonderful to me." I'm grateful for his unconditional love.
Zoey -- She received an award at school the other day, for which I am extremely proud. I look at her and I see the way she loves learning and approaches it with such wonder and awe. She has an infectious enthusiasm. I must hear 7 times a day, "Mom did you know..." to which I always say "no", because she finds such pleasure in being able to teach me and her brother the things she is learning in school. I was able to talk to her teacher later that day and Mrs. C had such kind and thoughtful things to say about Zoey. Any parent will tell you that having a teacher who sees in your child even a glimpse of what you see is a blessing.
Tamiflu -- enough said. Whew.
Forgiving friends -- Is there anything worse than being ground zero for the piggy flu in your group of friends?
My home -- The place where we all gather at the start and end of each day, snuggle on the couch, laugh over dinner, play games, work, read, live and love together.

One woman's "not on your life"

flashingyellowlights@gmail.com (MiaKatia) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:49:00 +0000

... is another woman's treasure. Remember when I was complaining that I was freezing and that I needed a zip hoodie? Well Tiburon sure did and she came to my rescue. Let's just say this wasn't Tib's favorite piece of clothing so she thought if I would wear it I could have it!

What do you think? Can I pull it off?

Amanda's Baby Shower

flashingyellowlights@gmail.com (MiaKatia) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:22:00 +0000

On Saturday I had the pleasure of helping throw a baby shower for my wonderful friend Amanda and her two buns in the oven.
I am not a, take a blank slate creative genius who makes a masterpiece out of thin air, but I am a fantastic student. So I used a lot of other people's ideas and tailored them for this party. I really wanted this to be special for Amanda because she is special to me.

I was lucky enough to work with Susan who came up with the idea, kept me on track, and hosted the party. I also borrowed from some master party planners, Suzanne and Darlene.

We had an ice cream sundae bar that was loaded with yummy goodness. I am pretty sure all the gals who came are still on a sugar high! (The place cards were made by modifying a free download from Cathe Holden at Just Something I Made)

And of course we had fun games with cute, if I do say so myself, prizes. I had a ton of fun putting together little gifts that I really wanted the ladies to love.I won't show you all 200 pictures I took of Amanda opening gifts, but I did want to show you a slide show of a gift that the kids made for the boys. The kids wanted to do something special, and I am a believer that there is nothing more special than a gift made with your own two (or eight) hands...

Thanks Grandma!!!

flashingyellowlights@gmail.com (MiaKatia) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 03:55:00 +0000

I nearly got accosted because I tried to make the kids wait to open their gift from Grandma. Luckily for them, Grandma took their side and said they could go ahead and open the package. Nothing is better than a package in the mail.

The kids love them. They are currently being used and toy totes, blankets totes, and seat holders at the dinner table. But, they are counting down the days when they get to be used for Trick-or-Treating!

Crazy Day?

flashingyellowlights@gmail.com (MiaKatia) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:08:00 +0000

This week is spirit week at Zo's elementary school. Since it is an abbreviated week, today was day one. Crazy day. I heard Miss Z get up and I yelled to her "put on something crazy". She sauntered in a few minutes later wearing a black long sleeved tee and dark wash jeans. Crazy? Not to me, but probably to her since her normal outfit is a lively mix of patterns and coordinating but definitely not matching colors. I thought well, lets do something crazy with your hair and toss a dress on over it all and you can wear mismatched shoes and it will be crazy. And the results...

PS These are worth clicking on and blowing up, says the momma :)

Not crazy in my opinion, but definitely ADORABLE!!!

The Efficiency Expert Gets...

flashingyellowlights@gmail.com (MiaKatia) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:57:00 +0000

The Efficiency Expert loves to keep records. He especially loves spreadsheets and makes one for any occasion he can get away with.

Spreadsheet for vacation options by distance, cost per person, with complicated formulas to judge funness. Check.
Spreadsheet for vacation packing. Check.
Spreadsheet for grocery shopping. Check.
Spreadsheet for food storage calculations. Check.
Spreadsheet for all areas of budgeting and spending. Check.
Spreadsheet for house hunting. Check.
Spreadsheet for vacation house hunting. Check.
Spreadsheet for gift giving options. Check

The Efficiency Expert can whip out formulas that would make any computer nerd or accountant blush. Lest you think he is only about the numbers, he makes them pretty too; winning the hearts of visualists and marketing gurus across the land.

The Efficiency Expert and the Social Housewife were required by the former's employer to change insurance plans this past year. Being fastidious about book keeping in general and not knowing exactly how these changes would effect the pair, the Efficiency Expert got down to business creating spreadsheets.

Being enamored with the Efficiency Expert to begin with, the Social Housewife gets all a flutter when she peers over his shoulder at his masterpieces. Thankful he does all the work, she secretly hopes and prays nothing ever happens to him because she barely understands what he has done to begin with and could never live up to his record keeping standards.

The Efficiency Expert, being the one who is employed, is the guarantor for his entire family. All the bills come to him and in his name. After finding a troubling and horribly reconciled bill, he contacted the doctor's office who referred him to the billing company who agreed they made an egregious mistake and consented to fix it. After 30 days the Efficiency Expert received another bill. Again he called the doctor's billing office and informed them of their error, again another promise to fix the mistake. After another 30 days the same bill was sent, this time with bold print and angry red numbers. Giving them the benefit of the doubt he called again, another promise to resolve the situation. After months of no resolution, the Efficiency Expert gets... sent to

COLLECTIONS

The Social Housewife asked him to pay it, the sum wasn't that large and it was turning in to way more hassle than it was worth. Not to mention the Social Housewife isn't' very good at sticking up for herself and hates confrontation... and she didn't want "the look" from the front desk girl next time she had to go back to this particular doctor.

The Efficiency Expert being a level headed and reasonable sort of guy got mad. REALLY MAD. He called the original billing company and received no help. He called the collections company and received no help. He contacted the legal offices of the original billing company and the collections company and received no help. Finally, seeing red and ready to explode, he contacted the legal representative of the doctor's office, and they got mad.

The Efficiency Expert finally got some help and as an apology.... a gift card for a really nice dinner out with the now sheepish Social Housewife who should have listened to him to begin with.

Inch worm

flashingyellowlights@gmail.com (MiaKatia) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:19:00 +0000

I have an inch worm who thinks he can crawl
With arms and legs and body so small
•
Up and forward two crawls he falls flat
Try again try again one more time splat
•
Slow down little inch worm don't grow up so fast
I finally appreciate and want this to last

Thankful Thursday -- Picture Edition

flashingyellowlights@gmail.com (MiaKatia) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:59:00 +0000

Photos Angie Wilson Photography

Christmas Outfits

flashingyellowlights@gmail.com (MiaKatia) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:40:00 +0000

In an alternate universe where 1) I would spend this kind of money on children's clothing and 2) we have somewhere to wear this kind of frippery this is what my kids would be wearing this Christmas.

Zoey

Reed

Blake

All these adorable outfits are from the Wooden Soldier. What are your plans for Christmas clothing, or are you doing the responsible thing and thinking about Halloween first?

PW Cookbook Signing

flashingyellowlights@gmail.com (MiaKatia) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:09:00 +0000

Did you know that Nashville was added to "The Pioneer Woman Cooks" book trip.

Nashville
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
7:00 pm
DAVIS-KIDD BOOKSELLERS
The Mall at Green Hills
2121 Green Hills Village Drive
Nashville, TN

If you want to go with me let me know and we will make a GNO out if it and head up early and get dinner and what not.

monday's random

flashingyellowlights@gmail.com (MiaKatia) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:16:00 +0000

my house is freezing. FREEZING. it made my fingers ache to bother with the shift key.
i don't want to turn on the heat because we will probably need the a/c by the end of the week.
i need a zip hoodie or a zip sweater of any kind.
i'm taking donations.
i'm not particular about color, i only sort of care that it fits, please send warmth soon.
speaking of warmth i've spent all morning looking for the adorable zip hoodie i bought zoey on clearance at the end of last winter.
cute, gray, hearts, from old navy or maybe gap or childrens place. seen it?
the bus stop gets pretty chilly.
please remind me where i stashed that sweater.
i spent all day yesterday in jammies.
today will be more of the same.
i am at least doing laundry so tomorrow will not be more of the same.
except that i'm cleaning tomorrow so maybe it will.
i'm still freezing.