Housewife Burnout!

Do You Often Feel Like This?!

Or This?

Do You Sometimes Wonder If This Is Your Hubby's Point Of View?

Lately I have found myself exhausted, bored, overwhelmed, taken for granted, depressed, etc. It seems I can only manage to clean up the clutter and there is no time for deep cleaning. I am also not having enough time to work with my two little ones. I feel like all I do is clean...then it is messed up...I wake up and do the same thing the next day. Argh!

Project Better has been a help because one project a week has been manageable. It also gives me a sense of accomplishment.

I have also noticed that if I could just get Dr. Hubby and Manga Dork to pick up after themselves I could probably complete my housewife duties. They leave stuff out and NEVER put stuff up. Alot of the work I do is picking up and putting away stuff they just lay around. In an attempt to help this situation I made signs two nights ago with my very reasonable requests on them...they were wadded up in the trash last night. HOWEVER...they are doing better. I guess they read it before trashing it!

Do you feel like you have "housewife burnout" too? What have you done that has helped?

TGIF!

Project Better Results! A Little Late...

Boy did that party put me behind! Wow! Here are my results:

Whole linen closet (BEFORE)

Whole linen closet (AFTER)


Top Close Up (BEFORE)

Top Close Up (AFTER)

Bottom Close Up (BEFORE)

Bottom Close Up (AFTER)

This really wasn't as bad as I thought it was! Just alot of refolding. I am in desperate need of washing my towels. We are one night away from having to use the beach towels. LOL!

Be sure to check out Mechelle's results over at Smelling the Flowers! She started with her linen area and it ended up having a domino effect all over the house...Thanks for joining me Mechelle!

The party has put me SO behind in my housework. I have had a couple frustrating days. Monday my Mom arrives to help me with next week's challenge...Are you brave enough?

You Asked Them...

Merrianne wanted to know which 5 of my bloggy buddies would I want to meet the most and what would we do...

1. Melonscraps (Marilyn)- I would like to scrapbook with her and her buds for a weekend.

2. Merrianne, Jan, Pam, and Mechelle and we would all go out for a Girls Nite Out!

(BTW...this was so hard. I could not figure out how to get it to 5 because I have about 10 I would honestly love to meet and spend time with. BUT I stuck with the rules.)

Adventure Girl wanted to know how many farm animals we have...

11 horses, 25 cows, 10 chickens, 5 goats, 3 cats, 7 dogs

Is it a working farm...

Yes. My FIL does most of the farming due to Dr. Hubby's schedule.

Do I want more children...

No. I think everyone has a limit and mine is 3.

What kind of Dr. is Dr. Hubby...

He is a Family Dr. He is also the kind of Dr. that people go to and LOVE. I love when I am out in town and someone will start talking to me about how they went to him and he has helped them SO much. He takes his time with each patient. He treats them like they are family. He goes to 3 local nursing homes to see patients, makes home visits, and will meet you at his office on the weekends if needed. We have also had patients come to our home. At times he will spend an entire weekend consulting and researching to help a patient. He has a big heart and is a great doctor. But I could be biased...LOL!

Jan wanted to know what my biggest pet peeve is...

I can't stand to hear someone smack their lips when they eat or chew gum! I literally squirm if I am near them.

ALSO...my newest one is that song by Katy Perry "I Kissed A Girl." I think it is gross and horrible and because the kids like the beat they are singing it. They don't even care what it is about...so sad!

Slacker Mom asked if I ever wear jeans...

No, it is a religious based choice.

What is on my Ipod or in my CD player...

I don't have an Ipod (yet!), but in my car CD player is George Huff's christian CD and the CD my BIL made for me with all of David Cook's American Idol performances on it. I love pop music, but I am limited due to the content of today's lyrics. My fave song on the radio right now is Pink's "So What." Manga Dork and I LOVE to jam to it!

Marilyn (Melonscraps) wanted to know exactly how long my hair is...

It is approximately 34 inches.

When and why did I start scrapbooking...

I scrapbooked a little in 1995...then started BIG TIME in 2000. I wanted to be creative and I love taking photos.

BTW...I would love to visit you in OR! Now I just need to convince Dr. Hubby...LOL!

Mechelle wanted to know where I want to be in 5 years...

I want to be at a healthier weight and living a healthier lifestyle. I want to live in our dream home (or at least have the addition finished on this one). I want to have more time to be creative. I want to be working outside the home (my own scrapbook business, in hubby's office, or at my own nonprofit). This was good to think about...

How is Foster Son...

I have spoke to him once. I told him to call me whenever he wants, but he has not called. Dr. Hubby and MIL saw him at Subway and he said hi. He looked very well taken care of and happy. We are taking some things to him on his birthday Thursday. His foster parents called the other night and he was wanting Nephew to come over to play. Dr. Hubby has had a hard time with him leaving our home. Wild Child talks about him sometimes. Manga Dork never mentions him and has no desire to see him. I still believe we made the best decision for everyone involved.

Do I have a sitemeter on my blog?

I have a free counter at the top right side and a Map at the bottom of my blog. I check my map daily and look at my counter every time I check my blog...which is WAY TOO MUCH! LOL!

BTW...if you did the project better challenge for your linen closet/area let me know and post it to your blog! I will post mine tomorrow! Sorry I fell behind! That party got me!

Go Ahead...Don't Be Shy...Just Ask!

Do you have a question you would like to ask? About me?About the kids?About Dr. Hubby?About Rocket Science (I will warn you that I am a little rusty in this subject. LOL!)? Go ahead ask! I will post all the answers tomorrow!

BTW...Manga Dork's 7th grade volleyball team won their first game last nite! Go Lady Reds!

Happy 13th Birthday Manga Dork Part 4!

Ok, this is the cake and these were the instructions they said they could follow...pink icing, green edging with black dots in it, 13 done in zebra stripe, Happy/TH/Manga Dork done in BLACK. This is what we got...not exactly what I wanted and definitely not the quality they have done in the past.

Manga Dork made a wish and blew out her candles...I bet she wished that a certain someone was present...HE was on a church field trip...HE is the reason she gave my party a 9 out 10...Rotten kid. Just joking. Kinda. LOL!

She was having SO much fun.

Dr. Hubby had to break up several kids who ended up doing this with their pieces of cake.

Then Manga Dork opened her presents. She received $110, $20 BooksaMillion gift card, $10 McDonalds gift card, bath set, journal, room stuff from us, a bike, and the Season 5 That 70s Show DVD.

We ended the party by dancing our butts off for the last hour! It seemed like it ended too soon. We had to clean up and hobbled into our home at 11:30 pm. Ugh! Manga Dork fell into bed and was snoring within 5 minutes. She said she loved her party. Mission Accomplished.

Happy 13th Birthday Manga Dork Part 3

It's Time to Party!

We always do a group photo. The lighting was terrible for this picture and unfortunately this is the only photo of the DJ that I got. I think now would be a good time to mention how these photos would have been so much better with a Nikon...Hint! Hint!

Here are a few photos of some cute guests...

Cutie Patootie finally came inside and actually had a good time! BTW...did you notice the cool tshirts I designed with glow in the dark neon puffy paint!? That is my FIL in the background.

Wild Child would live on candy! She did ALOT of dancing too!

The guests answered the 13 questions about Manga Dork and voted for Best Dressed. The winners received glow in the dark glasses!

My SIL and MIL were part of the Club's "staff."

Most people think that SIL and I are the sisters instead of our hubbys being brothers. We are alot closer than they are! We did the electric slide and kept the kids "hyped" up. Dr. Hubby and I even slow danced. How romantic!

This was the hit of the party. "The Manga Dork" It is lemonade with a sugared lemon slice and a ice cube made with a strawberry and strawberry koolaid. Yummy! They loved them so much I ran out of lemonade and had to use Sprite!

Happy 13th Birthday Manga Dork Part 2

The Birthday Girl...

The birthday girl and her VIP posse. LOL! The two on the left are her BFFs and the one on her right is the lil sis to the one in orange. The blonde one reminded me of a"Jem" doll every time I looked at her. Do you remember those "Barbie-type" dolls? They were the "Bratz" of the 80s!

Wild Child had to join them too!

Wild Child LOVES her Chucks. She knows that "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!"

Niece and Nephew were all decked out for the party too! Niece won the "Who Knows Manga Dork Best" contest!

Cutie Patootie was terrified of the DJ and his lights and loud music. She stayed outside for a LONG time.

Ok, I am going to have to give her a talk about that pose. Has she been working out to my Carmen Electra strip aerobics DVD?! LOL! Oh the things you have to explain to kids...

13 things I love about my Manga Dork:

1. We love the same tv shows/movies. I love having "veg out" time with her. Expecially watching the seasons of Gilmore Girls.

2. We love the same music. We jam out in our car with the windows rolled down and sunroof open.

3. She isn't afraid to be an individual, and only falls prey to peer pressure occasionally.

4. I love our tradition of eating chinese when "bad things" happen.

5. We can be like BFFs, but she still respects me as a Mother.

6. She wants me to be a part of her life.

7. She loves her family.

8. She can speak her mind, but needs to learn to censor some things.

9. She is a great student and loves to learn. She is science minded like her Dad.

10. She like to go to scrapbooking getaways with me. She is very creative.

11. She is the only person I can look at and see myself because I am adopted. She is the only person I know who has my blood...(ok, now I am tearing up)

12. She can laugh at herself. She cries often. She is a worrier. Ok, maybe I should just say...I can see myself in her. LOL!

13. We can share "inside jokes." She cracks me up...

Stay tuned...Time to go inside the party...

Happy 13th Birthday Manga Dork Part 1!

After weeks of planning the party is over! Here is a look at the setup...

This was the front of the food area. The kids loved the flashback photos of Manga Dork because they did not know her back then. The menu included: Nachos & Cheese, Hot dogs, and every flavor of soda imaginable. There was one special menu item, but I will tell you about that later...

These are the tables set up at the end of the gym opposite the DJ. He had a light that showed a red laser type flower that moved alot on the wall above the tables. It was awesome...

This is the table top. Black table cloth, neon pom poms, and a neon basket filled with CANDY!

This was the presents table. We gave her items to decorate her room (comforter, pillows, throw, rug, window treatment, etc.). For my new bloggy buddies here is the story...Manga Dork gave up her room (her choice) for almost 2 years to a foster kid that we almost adopted. She was in a small room that had bunk beds and 2 cribs! She had no privacy and basically only used her room for sleeping. Well, the adoption did not happen and now she has her room back. In the next two weeks we are going to be doing a complete room makeover...stay tuned!

There were two ways to win prizes at the party. This was the table set up for those. #1 was to vote for Best Dressed and #2 was a "Who knows Manga Dork best" quiz with 13 questions. There were also Glow in the Dark necklaces and bracelets on this table. The kids had a blast with those (I even put on a couple).

Manga Dork did her hair and makeup at the Community Center. Do you remember all the teasing and blue eyeliner!? Yikes!

Stay tuned for more party details...

Exhausted!

It is 11:44 pm here and I am exhausted. I left this morning at 9:15 AM and I got back about 10:30 pm. I got everything I need for tomorrow though. Wow! Dr. Hubby is probably going to cancel my access to the checking account! LOL!

Right now I am making ice cubes out of strawberry koolaid with a strawberry in each one. This is for the special drink, "The Manga Dork". It is going to be served in clear plastic wine glasses. It is lemonade with one of the ice cubes floating in it. She wants the glass dipped in sugar with a sugared lemon slice attached to the rim.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. I will post pics of the party on Sunday!

We Have Cake!!!

We have a cake! Hallelujah! It is not the cake I daydreamed about...not even close. BUT I think it is SO cool. It is a full sheet cake...hot pink icing...lime green edging icing with black dots...A big zebra striped 13 right in the middle! Manga Dork is satisfied and that is what matters (this is me trying to convince my inner perfectionist). LOL!

Thank you for your response to my question about the party copying. My first reaction was...that is fine, I don't own the trademark on parties with DJs. After I got off the phone my second reaction was...that kinda sucks, it was my idea. We wanted to be different. I don't want them to use all my ideas and do them better. My third reaction was...I am flattered that they want to copy us and Manga Dork will love another exscuse to go to a dance! Sooooo...pretty much what you told me. I love you guys...ya just give it to me straight. I respect your opinions ALOT! The reason I asked was because I was getting several people who thought I should be offended.

Tomorrow I am going shopping for EVERYTHING for the party. Wish me luck... I won't be posting my Project Better in the morning, but I will try to do it on Monday morning! If you joined me be on the lookout for the reminder to post your results!

TGI(almost)F! LOL!