My Christmas List

I know that the five or so of you who read my blog could care less about what I want for Christmas but since this is my platform…I’m gonna tell you anyway.  That’s the beauty of having your own blog.  Of course I’ve been compiling this list for quite some time.  It’s not really a Christmas list per say.  Think of it more as a list of things I need and/or want that just happen to be posted on this blog around Christmas time.  There.  That sounds better.  So sit back and enjoy

Canon EOS Rebel t3i Camera

Let’s face it, most people don’t read the words on my blog… they just look at the pictures.  You know what they say….a picture is worth a thousand words!  Anyway, I usually only take pictures with my iPhone and the quality of those pictures is shady at best.  For special occasions I may whip out my 12 megapixel Lumix camera but it still doesn’t take the best of pictures so I want an awesome camera.  And this is it. Many of the blogs I stalk speak very highly of this camera so I thought I should have one of my very own!

Apple MacBook Air Laptop

I am convinced that the computer industry is a racket!  I need a new laptop at least every two years.  System crash, technology updates, you run out of storage, or your laptop b v screen falls off because your kid drops it on the ground….repeatedly.  So since I am a bit in love with Apple products at the moment, I only think it’s fitting to upgrade to this new Apple MacBook Air Laptop.  I could go on about all the cool features but I’m sure you don’t care, just know that I want it….BAD!

Eye Fi Connect Wireless Memory Card

This has been on my Christmas List for the past two years and I haven’t gotten it!  That is unfortunate because this memory card is AWESOME!  It wirelessly downloads your pictures from your camera to your computer or smart phone or even your tablet and places them in organized, dated folders without having to even remove the memory card from your camera.   Can you say AMAZING!  I recently loss a memory card with a year of pictures on it including Evan’s 7th birthday pictures and I was bummed.  With this bad boy, all you have to do is be in close proximity to your computer, push a button and your pictures are there!

Front Load Washer & Dryer

We’ve owned our current washer and dryer for 10+ years and it’s time to say goodbye.  The dryer still works fine but the washer won’t spin unless it’s manipulated by using your finger to hold down the spin thingy or by strategically placing a paper clip in there to hold it down on it’s own.  It’s frustrating to say the least.  I would really be OK with just buying a new washer but you can’t have this fancy  red front load washing machine with a white top load dryer as it’s companion.  Have a little class!!  I can negotiate on the brand a bit.  But I do like bells and whistles so it still has to do cool stuff!

Secrets To A Healthy Metabolism by Maria Emmerich

Let’s face it, I’m not getting any younger and my metabolism is starting to slow down to a snails pace and my hips are living proof.  While blog stalking, I came across a blog called This Lunch Rox.  It’s all about healthy lunches for your kids, but the author of the blog mentioned how this book changed her life.  Her words…not mine.  She claimed that the book helped her realize (in simple terms) how the choices you make in your food affect a lot more than your waist line.  Of course I know all of this but she claims that the author breaks it down in words that even a dummy would understand.  Not that I’m a dummy or anything but my eyes do glaze over when reading medical jargon.  I bet you’re wondering how I survived nursing school huh?!  Let’s just say I survived by the grace of God and leave it at that!

Bluetooth Headset

It’s 2011.  I should not have to take my hands off the wheel to answer my cell phone.  It’s just not a wise thing to do!  That being said… I need a wireless headset to make that happen.  Once again, I’m not picky about the brand.  This Plantronics Voyager headset looks cool and it’s affordable thus it’s on my list.

Rachel Ray Cookware

When the Teflon non stick coating peels off of your skillet and lands in your eggs….it’s time for new cookware!

Daired’s Spa Package

I’m surrounded by all things boy all day everyday and sometimes I just want to feel pretty plus I get stressed  out like 90% of the U.S. Population.  A day at the spa would cure me of my stress and lack of prettiness. 

MAC makeup gift certificate

Going with the general theme that I don’t feel pretty…I need new cosmetics.  I currently have lip gloss, mascara and eye liner,  and a compact of old crusty eye shadow that should have been trashed years ago.  It’s time to add some color to my life.  Live life on the edge! 

A New Wardrobe

Yes, I’m still on the whole “I don’t feel pretty” theme.  My closet is a mix of a bunch of stuff I bought on sale at one time or another.  No real defined style and definitely no high end pieces.  I’m all for a bargain but some stuff should be a splurge like a good pair of jeans, shoes, a little black dress, etc.  (The last little black dress I owned was purchased for me by my Mother In Law for my college graduation….11 years ago!}  Not to mention the fact that I have no accessories other than a couple pair of every day earrings and necklaces.  It’s time to step it up!

 

Fire & Water Proof Safe

What if our house caught on fire and we loss all things important to us that would be difficult and/or impossible to replace.  This safe would hold passports, birth certificates, wills, and a thumb drive filled with important files and pictures and such.  Now that’s forward thinking!

Well, there you have it folks.  A list of all the things I want and/or need this holiday season.  Receiving these items would make me very happy! *Hint*Hint*

My Favorite Things - Rocket

Ok, my posts have been kind of depressing lately so I'm gonna liven it up a bit by presenting you with my new favorite thing.

A little background: a fellow coworker of mine is always sipping on delicious looking shakes. Upon further investigation I found out that these shakes are homemade with a little mixer that she brings from home along with all of her ingredients. So I thought, "Well golly gee! I think I'll make my own smoothies and stop spending an arm and a leg at Smoothie King and Jamba Juice, but I don't have a cute little mini mixer like she does."

Problem solved. While at Macy's, looking for cuff links for Terrance, I stumbled across this cute little number...

It's a Bella Cucina Rocket!

Now I have nothing to compare it to, but I love it. I've been a smoothie making fool. I stocked up on a ginormous bag of frozen mixed fruit at Sam's Warehouse and I've been making smoothies for breakfast, lunch, dinner for the past week! I feel so much better replacing my Sunkists for something healthier. I get more than the recommended daily servings of fruit so that's a plus too! To top it all off it's super easy to use and it only cost $29.99!

So far it's worth every penny!

~Shanita~

My illness

I will admit that I have a touch of OCD. I'm highly functional with it but I do have to work to keep it under control. Wait, I take that back.  I don't have OCD, I just like to have everything in order. It keeps me focused and we all know that I need all the help I can get in that area! I can't tolerate disorder for long periods of time. Now that I am a parent, I have let go of some of my control desire to keep things neat and orderly. Kids and husbands will do that to you. However, I do make my boys responsible for cleaning up after themselves. That way they will make some girl very happy once they are married! Well, the other day I came home to this...





This is only one side of the playroom. The other side had bins, toy kitchen accessories and dirty underwear on the floor and I refused to post the picture!





So I ordered my boys to CLEAN IT UP! All of the smaller toys are organized in bins by type. Cars with cars, tambourines with keyboards, etc. Large stuffed animals are in tubs and sentimental bears are on a bookshelf. Large toys are stored in a toybox, and so forth and so on! The boys already knew exactly where everything went! I raised 'em right!




Here's a picture of their book shelf. The books are arranged by paperback vs hardback, larger to smaller on each shelf with all spines facing outward for easy selection at bedtime. I had them all thrown into a bin at one time but the boys would pour all the books out on the floor each night in search of the perfect bedtime story which would of course be at the bottom of the pile! Plus this way the books last longer and it teaches them to take care of their things.





Here's a picture of one of my kitchen utensil drawer. I have my utensils seperated by color. I know. It's a sickness. But I know where everything is. Black handled items in one drawer, wooden in another and stainless in yet another!





Check out my kiddie utensil drawer. Originally all the stuff was dumped in the drawer all cattywampus until I discovered these cheap white bins. I love them. They are all over my house from the bathroom to the office.

Bins in use in the junk drawer

Second junk drawer

My spices are organized by type in nice little rows. I am currenly searching for an easier organizing method with my spices because keeping them all in line is a bit of a chore. I'm open to any suggestions in this department.

~Shanita~

The Possibilities are Endless

I've been thinking.  Which always leads to some sort of grand revelation (insert smile here).  I've been pondering lately about what direction I want to take my blog in.  Of course the options are endless.  I could make this blog strictly about my boys so they can have it as a sort of scrapbook for them to look back on when they are old and gray. I could write about being a mom in general with all the fascinating things that mothers face emotionally, physically, and mentally.  Or I could make this my own type of online journal that I use to express whatever is on my mind when I sit down at the computer. 

I asked the question: What will keep me more likely to keep this blog going?  And the answer to that question is:  All of the above.  You see, it's my blog which means I pretty much have free reign over what is posted here.  So maybe one week you'll see tons of pictures and posts about my boys.  The next week you might see exactly how I feel about this whole marriage thing (insert smile here...Terrance).  Heck, I might even comment on the what's happening in the world or in politics.  And follow it all up with a few posts on spirituality.  In other words....the possibilities are endless! 

So buckle up and enjoy the ride!

My favorite things

I know a couple of my favorite things have been mentioned on previous posts but you're gonna hear about them again!






This is an awesome creation! My boys love them and even ask for them for dinner. They are such a time saver for my family that doesn't do mornings very well. It is so hard for us to get out of the door to start our day but these pancakes on a stick make it easy for me to make sure my boys get breakfast on board. Now if I can just find a way to make sure their teeth get brushed....



Now I've never been a gamer but I've dated guys that were gamers my husband likes to play video games and my brothers were heavy into gaming systems. Something about watching my kids stare for hours extended periods of time at a video screen that makes me feel like a bad parent. Turns out that the Nintendo Wii is a great babysitter distraction! It keeps the boys and their father entertained long enough for me to cook dinner or blog or read a magazine or just get some peace and quiet!






Aaahhh, my iPhone. What more can i say. Once again, I'm not isually impressed by technology. I just like things that make life easier. So wait, maybe I am into technology. Anyway, this phone is da bomb! It does almost everything. It's a pocket computer basically. How did I live without apps all this time. Greta thinks that pretty soon it will get hit with a virus or something and I will curse the day I purchased my iPhone but for right now I'm luvin' it!






My Keurig coffee maker is a godsend. I love coffee but I could never make it taste right when I made it at home. It was either too strong or too weak. This machine eliminates all of that. One pod makes the perfect cup of coffee and I dont waste coffee since it brews one cup at a time. I can get pods in tons of different flavors and plus I can buy pods that make hot chocolate and tea in this bad boy. All in under a minute and for about 40 cents a cup! Sweet!




~Shanita~

10 Things About Me

A little background to this post.  My friend Greta challenged all of our fellow blogging buddies to post 10 things about ourselves to our blogs.  Okay, here it is...THE LIST!  I've been working on this list for a week!  It was so hard for me to find 10 interesting things about me.  I thought of a lot of things that would not be appropriate to share before narrowing it down to the following!  Enjoy!

1. I am addicted to fried green tomatoes from Button's restaurant.  It has the best combinations of flavors and I eat them (via take out) atleast once a week.

2. I don't pay attention to most details.  I won't notice if you've cut your hair, lost 5 lbs, painted your bedroom or if you're wearing a new piece of jewelry. I may notice that something is different but am usually at a loss as to what it is.  I'm a big picture kind of gal and leave the details to others.

3. I don't like bugs of any kind.  They are gross and creepy and I will usually scream when surprised by one. 

4. that being said...I startle easily.

5. I require ridiculous amounts of sleep.  I remember my friend spending the night with me in elementary school and she called her mom to pick her up the next afternoon because I was still sleeping....AT NOON!  I woke up and she was gone.  I have been known to sleep for 18 hours straight.  I LOVE IT! 

6. I hate waiting.  Long lines, traffic, dr's offices, deliveries at work, etc.  It annoys me. I'm more into instant gratification!

7. I'm a black girl with no rhythm. It's pretty sad. My husband says its because I was a cheerleader and was taught to be stiff to 'stick my moves'.  I'd do anything to be able to move my hips like Beyonce'...maybe not anything but you get my point.

8. I have a touch of OCD.  Example: I can't leave my house until I straighten my kitchen which is why I'm probably late everywhere I go.  I have to have my desk organized before I sit down at the computer. My clothes are arranged in my closet by color. I can't stand to have a messy pod at work.  My kids toybox is even organized.  It's sad.  I've gotten a lot better since having children and being married to Terrance I must say.

9. I ran track in college on a full scholarship...but I HATE RUNNING!  I do not understand why people run for the fun of it.  I ran all of 13 seconds when doing the hurdles and under a minute when running the 400m dash.  Anything after that was overkill.  I tried to run a 5k a few years ago (with my husband) and almost died and have never tried that again. 

10. It makes me sad that my boys are getting older.  I loved the baby stage when you could hold them and snuggle them and they smelled like baby lotion.  Now they are tall and awkward and don't like to be held and they sometimes don't smell so fresh! 

Check out these other lists from my fellow blogging buddies
Greta
Katie
Jennifer