Do You Pass the Test?

So, I didn't write this and I don't know who did. I got it from a friend of mine who emailed it to me. I thought it was cute!

*The Mom Test*

I was out walking with my 4 year old daughter. She picked up something off the ground and started to put it in her mouth. I took the item away from her and I asked her not to do that.
'Why?' my daughter asked.
'Because it's been on the ground, you don't know where it's been, it's dirty, and probably has germs' I replied.
At this point, my daughter looked at me with total admiration and asked, 'Momma, how do you know all this stuff, you are so smart.'
I was thinking quickly. 'All moms know this stuff. It's on the Mom Test. You have to know it, or they don't let you be a Mom.'

We walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but she was evidently pondering this new
information.
'OH...I get it!' she beamed, 'So if you don't pass the test you have to be the dad.'
'Exactly.' I replied back with a big smile on my face.

I don't know about you, but sometimes, I am darn pleased with myself and the answers I come up with for my kids. Sometimes I think I am absolutely brilliant because an idea comes to me and the kids actually love it. Sometimes we actually have days go by here when no child gets put in time out and they actually help clean up their room before bed time.

Other times, I know I fail "The Mom Test" miserably. I often wish that I was a doctor, a psychologist, an accountant, a plumber, a car mechanic, a nutritionist, a personal trainer, and an elementary school teacher as well as being a mother. If I was all those things, then I would have all the answers. Right? I would know when to take my kids to the doctor. I would know how to change my own oil in my car instead of waiting with two kids in the "oh so clean" waiting room. I wouldn't worry about Piglet saying his "L" sounds because I would know how to fix it. I could do my own taxes and feel without-a-doubt comfortable when I signed them and mailed them in.

The truth of the matter is that even if I was all those things, I wouldn't have all the answers. Things would still happen where there isn't a right answer. That's when I remind myself that I'm doing the best I can with what I have and I can always make improvements.

Pictures from www.jupiterimages.com.

Confession #19 I Don't Write in a Journal

This one actually makes me feel extremely guilty. I come from a family of RECORD KEEPERS. And I mean RECORD KEEPERS. My mother, not only has written her own life history, but has written one for each of her 8 children that accounts for the time until they left home...18ish. My grandmother's life history is full of lists. Lists of all of the wards she has lived in, all of the callings she has held, all of the choirs that she participated in, all of the places she has visited, and much, much more.


I have been taught from an early age that records are important things. I agree. I have learned much about relatives from reading their records. After my dad died, my aunt collected and put togther a book of memories that his 7 siblings and their parents had. It is a priceless collection. I have learned much about my great, great grandmother (who lived during polygamy) and whenever I get my girl, she will be named after her.


Even though I don't keep a journal to record my thoughts, I still have many forms of records. I label the back of ALL of my pictures so that one day I won't wonder who it is. My family exchanges emails once a week that talk about what is happening in our lives...and I print those and keep them together. I write down all the funny things that the kids say and keep them together.


With all the records that I keep, I shouldn't feel so guilty that I don't keep a daily journal. The older I get and the more I have on my plate, the more I think that writing in a journal because I feel guilty isn't the best way. It would turn into a chore rather than something I enjoy. I don't have time for more chores. So, I guess I'm just saying that I may not write in a journal, but what I'm doing right now to keep a history is just going to have to be okay for right now.

How Did You Do?

Awhile ago I posted a game called Ten Points. Basically it's a quiz to see how many movies that I watch that you also watch enough to get these quotes. You get 10 points for each correct answer with a total of 100 points.

Here are the answers:

1. The Sound of Music
2. Finding Nemo
3. While You Were Sleeping
4. The Parent Trap (the one with Hayley Mills)
5. Toy Story
6. Pride and Prejudice (with Colin Firth)
7. Cars
8. A Grand Day Out (a Wallace and Gromit short)
9. The Princess Bride
10. Sense and Sensibility

How did you do?

Confession #18 -- I'm the Second Worst Back Seat Driver

And I'm only the second worst because my kids are the first.

About a year a go when I was teaching Piglet more of his colors we looked for colors when we were driving around in the car. Red and green were the colors we found the most. He soon learned wheat red and green mean. Now he tells me at every opportunity he gets: "Stop Mom!", "Go, mom, it's green!", "Don't slow down, it's green.", "Don't hit that car, mom!", "You're too close!"

It drives me batty some times! Now Tigger has started in on me, too: "Slow down for the bumps!", "You're going too fast!" (How would he know?!?!), "Stupid driver...be nice."

That last one he learned from me. I'm not a road rage kind of gal, but I will often comment on how stupid other drivers are, because let's face it...there are stupid drivers out there.

But not me.

Okay, so maybe I have done a few dumb things in my driving career, but as mentioned before, I've never been pulled over. I've also never been in a car accident when I was driving. Because of that, I'm the safest driver I know.

Or at least that's what my control issues are telling me. The number of drivers I trust completely, I can count on one hand. My husband isn't even on that list. I'd rather drive because, we will both admit, that I am the better driver. I can't fall asleep when someone else is driving unless I'm in the back seat and can't see the road. This is because the first wreck I was in was because I was asleep in the passenger side and I woke up flying forward to the windshield because the driver fell asleep. I'm pretty sure these issues stem from me feeling like I have to be in complete control of the car to feel safe.

Because I'm the safest driver I know, I also feel like I have to tell everyone else how to be safe. I'm the worst with my husband and siblings. Sometimes, I literally have to bite my tounge to keep from saying things to him about his driving. In some ways I feel like I'm a Driver's Ed teacher every time I'm not driving. I have my foot on my imaginary brake on the passenger side and I'm constantly pointing out things that the driver might have missed...someone who MIGHT change lanes...someone who MIGHT turn without a blinker...the light that MIGHT change soon...etc.

I'm learning how to be nicer about things. My husband thinks I've come a long way since we were married 6 years ago. I think I have too. I also think that I'll come even further when Piglet and Tigger are learning how to drive. Then I might actually get a taste of my own medicine!

A Tag

So, Heather sent out a tag and I thought I'd do it because my brain isn't working as of late and I thought this might be an easy post.

10 Years ago...
10 years ago I was in the middle of my 2nd year at BYU. I was just getting to know to of my best college friends.

5 things on my list to do today....
1. Go to the gym
2. Vacuum
3. Type a report of our last Primary Activity Day
4. Not make dinner...I have a RS dinner tonight.
5. Make my yearly doctor's appointment...YUCK

Snacks I enjoy.....
Anything with chocolate and peanut butter

What I would do if I were suddenly a millionaire.....
Pay off our student loans, finish paying for our van, buy a house, invest

3 bad habits......
1. Picking at my nails when I get nervous
2. Reading instead of doing work
3. Staying up late for no reason

5 places I have lived.....
1. Midland, TX
2. Provo, UT
3. Seattle, WA
4. Orem, UT
5. N/A

5 jobs I have had......
1. working for my dad's small business (cutting, routing, and staining wood blocks)
2. Receptionist
3. Telephone surveyor (one summer)
4. Special Events staff at BYU (football stadium and basketball arena)
5. Purchasing department for the DOI

5 things people don't know about me.......
1. I've never been pulled over.
2. When I find a pen that I like, I hoard it and keep very close tabs on it.
3. I ran a 5K one time and never again will I do it. Just not that fun, although I was proud of myself for doing it.
4. I didn't loose a tooth until 1st grade and then my teacher didn't believe me because the permanent tooth was already growing in.
5. I love Sharpies.



So, if you haven't been tagged lately and you want to do it, I'm all for it. It's passed on to you....

Ten Points!

So my family plays a game called Ten Points. Basically, you throw a quote from a movie into your conversation and then say, "Ten Points!" The first person to come up with the movie gets the 10 points. We really never keep count of who has how many points, but it's always satisfying to know the movie before the others.

So, I thought I'd play a version of that game here. Basically, I'm just going to put quotes from some of the movies that are watched in our house and see how many you know. Notice, I did not say that all the movies were my favorites...I said movies that are watched at our house. Don't forget that Piglet and Tigger watch movies, too.

And to give you a little hint that might make your guessing a bit easier...we don't watch too many movies on the big screen. Why pay $20 to get both of us into a movie and then come home and pay the baby sitter, too? It's cheaper to rent them when they come out. First, you can watch it more than once. Second, more people can watch it for cheaper. Third, you can make your own popcorn the way you like it instead of spending way too much money on that movie stuff. But I digress. These movies are not the new ones, (probably) but the ones that are tried and true.

Here goes!

1. "They were strawberries. It's been so cold lately that they turned blue!"


2. "Fish are friends. Not food."


3. "I like blonds. Chubby ones."


4. "You. You're twins. Do you share everything?"


5. "Hey look. I'm Picasso." "Uh, I don't get it." "You uncultured swine!"


6. "You want to tell me and I have no objection to hearing it."


7. "I don't need to see where I'm goin'. I just need to see where I've been."


8. "Everyone knows the moon is made of cheese."


9. "Nonsense. You're only saying that because nobody ever has."


10. "Have you a reliable atlas? I wish to check the position of the Nile."

So, you get 10 points for each one you get right. Let me know how you did and in a future post, I'll reveal the movies. Good luck!

Confession #17 -- I Don't Like Shopping for Clothes

I used to...before I had kids. But ever since the pregnancies, my body has changed shape, and not in a good way. I think what happens when you have kids is that clothing never fits right anymore. They don't make pants that fit your hips and your waist. If they fit up top, the legs are so baggy it looks like you are wearing a tent. Someone needs to invent a clothing store that has cute clothing tailored to the "post pregnancy" body.

But alas. I haven't purchased a brand new pair of jeans for almost 3 years and it was about time. I'm a used clothing shopper. Not only is it better for my wallet, but sometimes you can find really great things. But jeans are one of those things that you either get really lucky at the used clothing stores or you have to buy new. After looking for and not finding the perfect pair of jeans at the used clothing stores, I decided that I deserved a brand spankin' new pair after 3 years.

One of the reasons I don't like shopping for clothes (besides the fact that they never fit right) is because I have two little boys. I'm trying to teach them about modesty and therefore, it's inappropriate for them to go into the fitting rooms with me. That means that I have to go when Peter is home to watch the boys...usually on a weekend. Stores are BUSY on weekends and I don't like fighting the crowds.

Another reason I don't like shopping for clothes is that I'm between average and petite. Average pants are usually so long they are dragging on the floor by 4 inches or more. Petites are just too short and you can't do that. I can sometimes get by with a petite if I plan only wearing my beloved flip flops with it...and flip flops only. I suppose some would say the solution to that is to wear 4 inch heels all the time. But I DON'T THINK SO!

So, on Saturday, I braved the crowds at the mall and went shopping for jeans. There is one little store that I have lots of luck in so I started there. I encountered the same problem. The average ones were too long and the petites were too short. Then the sales girl told me that their jeans shrink a lot shorter, but that they stretch out as you wear them so to get a snug pair. I thought that maybe I could get an average. So, I looked for the size smaller in average. That's always nice, right? But without divulging my size (because what normal girl would...) I soon found that they didn't have any in the color I wanted and the size I wanted. Bummer for me. I hate shopping for clothes.

So, while at the mall, I decided to take a jaunt down to JC Penney because I would never have a chance to shop by myself again...at least in the forseeable future. I don't usually have the best of luck there, but it was worth a try, right? I searched the shelves and racks for the right color and the right size and the right length. I found some to try on and lo and behold! A pair that was perfect. Now, to look at the price. Originally it was $40. Pretty average for a pair of jeans. But lucky for me it was President's Day Weekend and that means SALE! The sale price was $18.99. Even better. But I looked closely at the tag and what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a pricetag with $3.97 written on it. This couldn't be real. Only one other pair of jeans on the entire rack had that same tag on it, so I thought for sure it was a mistake.

I took it to the counter and asked the gal at the register what the deal was with that. She looked it up for me and WOW! It really was only $3.97! SCORE! My shopping trip was a success after all!



But, after all that, I still don't like shopping for clothes.

And the Award Goes To:

I'm excited because mom2my6kids gave me my first award! I actually think it's quite an ironic award. I have NEVER considered myself a great writer. In fact, during my high school and college years, my lowest grades were always in English. I often feel like I write in circles and that I repeat myself. And I KNOW that I often write incomplete sentences.

But as soon as I figured out that I don't have to write like I'm in an English class all the time, I started getting compliments on my writing skills. It first started at work right out of college and before I was married. People at the office said they always looked forward to my emails. They asked me all the time if I had ever considered writing for a paper column or something. Well, I was flattered, but nope...that kind of think doesn't sound exciting to me. Still doesn't.

And now this great award! I'm much more comfortable with my writing style now...I still wouldn't want the pressure of producing something fun, upbeat, out of the ordinary, or politically charged every day, but I love writing stuff on the blog.

"The rules for being A Roar For Powerful Words recipient are that I share 3 writing tips and pass the award on to 3 more bloggers worthy of recognition and esteem..."

So, here are my 3 writing tips:

1. Figure out the purpose of your writing. Is it to self medicate, ponder issues, vent a bit, share something profound that you've learned, or just to be funny?

2. If your writing is for something informal (like blogs...), write like you talk...even if it's in circles.

3. Never take yourself too seriously. You may write something one day and feel completely opposite the next. That's okay. We all learn from each other.

And as far as passing this award along...I'm fairly new in the blogging world and I'm slowly building up my circle of friends. As for right now, I think most of my friends have received it lately, but I wanted to for sure pass it along to one. And that is Lizzy at Ice Cream Diary. She is a brave woman to share some of the personal struggles that she has and I admire her ability to tell the world that she wants to change things in her life. Thanks for writing.

And to the rest of you, keep writing!

Another LOVE/HATE Relationship

Well, I've thought about this entry for awhile. I couldn't make it into a confession that was 100% true, so I had to do it this way. But here is another one of those things that I can't decide if I love or hate it more.

I HATE reading books to my kids.

I LOVE reading books to my kids.

I HATE reading the same books over and over and over to my kids.

I LOVE that my kids want me to read books to them.

I HATE doing the "voices" while reading books to them.

I LOVE that Peter does the "voices" while reading books to them.

I HATE that I'm lacking on sleep so much that I fall asleep whenever I read books to the kids.

I LOVE that books can take us anywhere in the world we want to be.

I HATE that I always end up with elbows, knees, heads, arms, legs, etc. poking and prodding me the entire time we read books...All because they are arguing about who gets to sit where.

I LOVE that Piglet likes to get non-fiction books from the library...he knows so much!

I HATE that they want to read a lot of books when we are already late for bedtime.

I LOVE that Tigger (he's two) chooses to sleep with books instead of toys.

I HATE that I don't have enough time to read what I want to read.

I LOVE children's books...Especially the ones with fantastic illustrations.

I HATE picking up ALL the books that the kids have pulled off their bookshelf.

I LOVE when it's time to go to the library and check out new books.

I HATE it when people fold down corners of pages to mark their places.

I LOVE it when you find a new author that you like.

I HATE it when an otherwise good book ends up with a really lame ending. I just finished one of those...Talk, Talk by T.C. Boyle.

I LOVE the smell of a brand new book.

I HATE it when people spill food in a book.

I LOVE books!!


And as a little note, I got my first award from mom2my6kids and I'm so excited!! Keep a look out for the pass along!

Confession #16 I Don't Know What's For Dinner!

So, um, I haven't done a good grocery shopping run for about a month and a half now. And it's not that I don't want to, either. I actually find it enjoyable. I like looking for good deals and I like looking around new stores.

But, my life has been so busy that I literally have been running out of time to go. I have something scheduled every morning (which is, IMO the best time to go grocery shopping...not as many crowds, better produce selection, and all the good deals aren't gone). Even Saturday mornings are filled with activities. When I walk into the kitchen I feel like I need to see a sign that says NO FOOD HERE!! I keep us stocked on milk, eggs, cheese, fresh produce, etc, but like I said, it's been a month and a half now since I've done a good grocery run.

I feel like every day I am scraping the barrel, so to speak, when it comes to getting dinner ready. I have to be really creative and use my food storage well. It's starting to get old. At least I have food storage. So, for my sake (so I can have it in writing) and for yours if you are wondering what to make, I am compiling a list of things I can make for dinner that I can make in a pinch. In making this list, I am assuming that there are some basics stored away in the freezer or pantry ...chicken, ground beef, pasta, etc. I do have some basics now, but at the rate I'm going that won't last long. I'VE GOT TO GO GROCERY SHOPPING!!

-Baked Potatoes
-Pasta with a bit of butter and parmesean cheese (yummy with freshly ground pepper!)
-Taco Soup (canned beans, corn, taco seasoning, onion, ground beef...that's about it!)
-Omlettes (Peter is a great omlette maker!)
-Tuna Casserole (This is always one of the options LOWEST on my list.)
-Breakfast at Dinner (pancakes, waffles, cereal, etc.)
-Chicken Enchiladas (I have in food storage enchilada sauce and I actually have chicken and tortillas today.....HHmmm....maybe I'll do that today.
-Spaghetti
-Hearty sandwiches...with whatever meat and veggies you have.

Well, there you have it. It may not be a long list, but it helped me for at least tonight. What are some of your standby favorites?!?!

Confession #15 I Still Sleep With My Baby Blanket

You know how there are just some things that bring comfort to you no matter what? Hot chocolate and a good book. A nice warm bubble bath. A visit to mom's house. Well, for me it's my Blankie. It's been with me through everything. I was so little when I got it that I don't even remember getting it. It's always been there...kind of like this constant companion.

Peter teases me about sleeping with it. He's mostly just jealous because I cuddle it more than I cuddle him. What can I say? When I sleep on my side, I need something to hold in my arms to keep my chest cavity open. It's the perfect size to fit right in between my arms and it's soft. Peter is a little big for that...plus, he snores.

My Blankie is so threadbare that I'm afraid every time I wash it. I'm afraid it will end up in shreds. The ties that my Grandma used to tie the layers together were all pulled out years ago when I was a fidgiting kid. Because of that, the little batting that is left has been migrating to one corner of the blanket preventing it from ever lying flat again. The fabric is so thin that you can see through it easily. The binding on the edge is literally hanging on by threads. Occasionally I have to actually cut parts of it off because they end up in loops that I catch with my fingers. But I could never give it up. It may be thin and ragged, but it still keeps me warm.

My sister is the same way with her Blankie. One time when she flew somewhere, she put the blanket in the suitcase (much like I did). We have never made that mistake again. They lost her suitcase and she had to sleep without it for a few days. There was a palpable fear that she would never see her Blankie again. Now, it gets tucked nicely in a large carry on bag so as to never loose it again. It's thin. I can do that.

Peter sometimes thinks it's funny to take it and hide it from me. He can only try this when I'm in an extremely jovial mood because otherwise, it's just not funny. One time he hid it in the morning and as I cleaned that day I found it. I noticed it was missing when I made the bed and I sniffed it out. He has never tried that one again.

My sister and I get heckled by our family for this, but it doesn't matter. I tell them that I want to hand it down to my little girl...if I ever have one. They always laugh and ask how much of it will actually be left for a daughter. But, I don't care. I always sleep better with Blankie folded in my arms.

Valentine's Day Post

I'm going for the Valentine's Day Blog Re-Design Giveway that Magirk at Laughadaisy is giving away. I have been straining my brain trying to thing of the absolute best Valentine's Day that I've ever had. I was thinking of telling about the time when my dear Peter surprised me with a trip for just the two of us. Or the time when I found out that I had a secret admirer. Or the time in 6th grade when I was picked by the school to be the Valentine Princess for the day.





But I can't. None of them ever happend.





Truthfully, Valentine's Day has never been really big for me. Peter is the only boyfriend I ever had and even then, we were married and poor by the time Valentine's Day came around. Even my parents never made it a big deal. Their anniversary was only a few days before Heart Day and so they just sort of smooshed the two things together at our house. I never minded much. I'm afraid I was one of those people who refered to it as "Singles Awareness Day."





But one of the things that I remember happening every year is mom making heart shaped cookies that she painstakingly decorated with pink and white frosting and red hots. I never cared much for the red hots, but she made fantastic sugar cookies. When I was younger she would bring the cookies into my class at school and I loved it. As I got older, she stopped bringing them to school, ("Are you kidding, mom?!?! Bring them to my school?!?! How embarrassing!), but she always had them out on the counter so we could eat them when we came home from school.



Today is Mom and Dad's anniversary. Because it's so close to Valentine's Day, dad would usually buy mom some really nice flowers that would last at least a week and count them for both occasions. (I told you that it was never that big of a deal.) But now, the anniversary dates are special. My dad died only 5 days before their 30th anniversary after a quick bout with cancer. Now, today (the 7th) and on Valentine's Day, it's all about my mom. I want to make sure that the day for her is special, just like it always was. This is now what Valentine's Day reminds me of: That the love we have for each other never stops just because people pass on to the next world. Every day is a blessing with those we love!



Happy Anniversary Mom (and Dad!)

Confession #14 I Haven't Vacuumed for a Long Time

I think I have a really bad relationship with vacuums. They all seem to hate me. Because my last one pretty much died on me, I got a new one less than a year ago. I did some research and ended up getting one from Costco...right down the middle of the line...not to expensive, and not the cheapest (despite the fact that Peter would have gotten the cheapest no matter what...You cannot always sacrifice quality for cost).



We brought it home, put it together, and it worked fantastically. We loved it! For about a month. Then we started noticing that it just wasn't getting all the stuff off the carpet. The hose was filled with carpet fuzz. So much that we had to literally push a broom handle through it to get it all out. Then it worked great for another little while. Then on Halloween night, Peter was vacuuming while waiting for Trick or Treaters and you would not believe the burning rubber smell that came from that thing. It was so bad that you could feel it in your eyes. I took it in to a vacuum repair shop because surely it was worth fixing it rather than buying a new one! Right??



Well, after replacing a part that had melted, it worked fantastically again! But a couple of weeks ago when I vacuumed, I noticed another problem. It sucked things off of the carpet, but the smell that lingered was terrible. Maybe not as bad as the burning rubber smell, but it smelled just like all the dirt had been picked up, stirred into the air, and left there to settle back down on the floor again. I could hardly breathe because it literally smelled like a dust storm.



So, now what do I do? I don't have the money to get a new one and at the rate we are going, I don't have money to get it fixed again. I have taken this thing apart and to my untrained eye, there is nothing I can do. So I do nothing.



But that only lasts a little while. Last night I did some yoga after the kids went to bed and it was terrible being that close to the floor where I could actually see the dirt and grunge that has accumulated. And I shudder to think that my kids are playing on the carpet the way it is. My only consolation is that at least they are old enough not to put things in their mouths, but still, I hate the idea that they are playing in it.

Recipe Exchange

So, at the moment, it's almost time for dinner...I've been thinking about what to write as a confession all day and have come up with nothing. So, in lieu of that, tonight you get a recipe that I made last night for the first time. I loved it! It's a Greek dessert that's not too sweet, but still good. Sorry there are no pics...I forgot until after they were gone, which was quick! And if you don't have the exact dried fruits it calls for, substitute others...apples, cherries, craisins, raisins, pears, etc.

Pyllo Purses with Dried Fruit Compote

1/4 pound dried figs (about 1/2 cup), quartered
1/4 pound dried apricots (about 1 1/2 cups) sliced
1/2 cup packed golden raisins
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup honey
1 cinnamon stick
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons sliced almonds
4 (12x17 inch) sheets phyllo dough, thawed according to package directions

1. Preheat oven to 350. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray. Set aside.
2. To make compote, combine figs, apricots, raisins, orange juice, water, honey, cinnamon stick, and vanilla in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the fruit plumps and the liquid becomes syrupy, 12-15 minutes. Remove the compote from the heat; discard the cinnaomon stick. Cool 10 minutes, then stir in the almonds.
3. Place one sheet of phyllo with the long side facing you on a work surface. Lightly spray with nonstick spray; top with a second phyllo sheet and lightly spray with nonstick spray. Repeat with the remaining phyllo sheets to form a stack. With a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut the phyllo into 6 equal squares. Place 1/4 cup of the compote in the center of each square. Working one square at a time, gather the four corners of the square together to enclose the compote. Twist the gathered phyllo lightly to seal the packet and form a purse. Transfer purse to the baking sheet; repeat with the reaming phyllo, nonstick spray and compote to make 6 purses.
4. Spray the purses lightly with nonstick spray. Bake until crisp and golden, 12-15 minutes. Serve warm.

Confession #13 -- I Don't Mind Doing Laundry

WOW! Somehow the weekend got ahead of me! I didn't even check my email for over 2 days! That's a record for me.

Anyway, Mondays at our house are designated "Laundry Day" because that's all I do on Mondays. I don't like the idea of doing laundry every day for two reasons. 1. It's hard to do full loads that way and therefore it wastes water. And 2. I don't mind doing laundry, but I certainly don't love it. I only do it one day a week...unless there is some sort of emergency with any kind of bodily fluid. And with children, those happen more often than I would like. Besides, doing it all at once gives me the opportunity to sit down and fold clothes while watching a movie without feeling guilty!

Some people might call me obsessive compulsive about things I do. I have to do things in even numbers (including the number of kids I have). I have to align everything. I tuck the sheets on the bed just so on the corners EVERY DAY. I fold clothing so that it all ends up the same size. I match socks up...even all the plain white ones all three of the boys at my house wear. A new white sock can not be matched up with the old white sock...and I can tell the difference. Clothes are arranged in drawers so as to best use the space available.

I guess this is mostly why I don't mind doing laundry. Nobody else could do my laundry as perfect as I could. I'm sure that someday I'll have to give up all my quirks about laundry, but not today.

And if any of you want to cut your laundry time down, just watch and learn from this video.

Another reason I do my laundry all in one day: I actually stand a chance at having ALL the laundry clean at once...until it's time to get ready for bed and the dirty clothes go back in the laundry baskets, that is.

Confession #12 -- I'm Really Terrible at Washing my Face

I have always been a lucky soul with skin that is usually fantastic. Occasionally I get little blemishes, but rarely even a zit dares show itself on my face. I hardly ever wear makeup...mostly just on Sundays and other out of the ordinary activities. Because of that, I was always lazy about washing my face. I wash it in the shower every morning, but not with anything special. I wash it only on the nights that I wear makeup and even only that if I remember to.



But this has to change. I'll be 30 this year and I'm noticing more and more that my face is not it's youthful self anymore. No wrinkles yet, but it certainly doesn't have even coloring. I have a neighbor who sells Mary Kay. And really, even though I don't wear makeup much, I have absolutely loved anything I have gotten from Mary Kay. I went to my neighbor's house last night and I finally got the basic skin care package. It's been on my mind for awhile, but I never got around to it. But this time I got it. I have loved it. All morning I have been feeling my face and looking at myself in the mirror. I feel a bit silly doing it, but it is such a difference from yesterday that I can't help myself!



So, now that I've shelled out the money for this fantastic stuff, I plan on using it. And then maybe, just maybe, I might be able to take this confession back!