Beth vs Kitchen Cabinets

As most of you know I finally got the motivation to take on the chore of painting our kitchen cabinets. I shared some photos on social media and started getting A LOT of questions. I will try to answer them all here. Forgive me, I wasn't planning on posting about this so my pictures of each step are limited.

Here is a little Q & A for you all:

1- What did you have to do to prep the cabinets?
 First I deep cleaned them, with it being a kitchen there are ALWAYS  random grease spots and food you can't see.
Second, I taped off the edges and light sanded. If you are using chalk paint this step is optional. Our cabinets were very glossy, so I felt the outcome would be better if I sanded them first.

2-What paint did you use?
I used Rust-Oleum Chalked in Linen

3- Why did you go with Chalk Paint?
When I repainted the cabinets at our other house I used latex paint. This would have been ideal, IF the house was empty and I could have sprayed the cabinets. I did not feel like taping/masking off our house to spray the cabinets. I also had a bad reaction to latex paint last time I painted indoors with it. Yes, I know chalk paint is latex based, BUT it doesn't have the strong odor. I also knew that I could skip the step of primer if I used chalk paint. And if you have as many cabinets as I do, then you know that priming would have taken two days to do!

4- Did you take the doors off?
When I repainted our other cabinets I removed all hardware and took all the doors off. I learned a HUGE lesson that time....when you live in an older home sometimes it is best to not take apart something that isn't broken. After removing all of the doors and hardware last time I spent weeks trying to hang the doors all back right. If you have ever done cabinet work you know that hanging the doors is an art! So this time I felt like it was worth it to me to have a little paint on the hinges and have cabinet doors that stay shut and hang straight...then to fight with them. I have ZERO regrets about this. Leaving the doors on made it a thousand times easier to paint both sides of the doors and they could be drying at the same time. HUGE time saver!

5- Did you paint inside the cabinets?
No...I painted both sides of the doors, the fronts of the drawers, and the fronts of the bases. Our cabinets have liners in them (most of the liners are white)...so I just left the inside alone. If I ever get the urge this is something I can come back and do one cabinet at a time. I wasn't up for living weeks with my kitchen torn all apart.

6- How do you do this so fast?
This sort of brings me back to why I went with Chalk Paint vs Latex. So...when you use latex paint you have to give a 12-24 hour drying time between coats. Chalk paint dries within an hour (typically much faster)...so as I finished one coat on all cabinets, I was immediately able to do a second coat. I am also an extremely hyper focused person when I start on a project. I have a hard time walking away until it is complete.

7- What did you seal them with?
I haven't sealed them yet. I ordered Matte Clear and we will see if it will work. I will keep you all posted on this. I plan to try a few different types out on some scraps and see what will work best for us!

8- How many coats of paint did it take?
Our cabinets were oak (I think) with lots of grain in them. I wanted a smoother look. In most places I did three coats. Why did I do three coats? With chalk paint you can sand it down and make it smooth, almost flawless. I wanted to ensure I got the flawless look, and was able to hide the grain in the wood.

9- Will you help me paint my cabinets?
Ummm No...unless you are paying. Seriously, painting cabinets is not difficult...it is a lot of work, but if you take your time you can certainly do it on your own! Less is more with paint...you can always add more, but you can't take it away.

10- Did you replace the hardware?
No, the previous owners had newer hardware on them when we bought the house. I really liked the hardware and opted to keep it. Plus...replacing this much hardware can be so expensive!

Now for some before and afters, a couple of during photos, and my plans for the next projects!

This was the kitchen the week we moved in. 

First task was the laundry area:

Paint under chair rail- Benjamin Moore's Wrought Iron

Frosted the mirrors on the laundry room door: Frosted Paint

Added wall paper

Changed the light fixture

Next up was the table, chairs, and shelf:

The table and chairs are painted with Chalked- Linen and Charcoal.

Sealed with Polycrylic

Chairs are covered with Premier Prints fabric (I swear by this brand)

The shelf is a super simple build. maybe one day I will DIY blog that for you :)

The island I found on Facebook market place.

The phone (which does work) was an ebay find.

The letters were in my other house and were bright colors, I painted them with the charcoal paint from the table.

My next project will be to add a new drop in stove and above range microwave. I will then turn the cabinets where the wall oven currently is into pretty display cabinets. I am picturing glass doors, with shelves and lights....like THIS (drooling). Once the new stove and all is fixed I want new counters/backsplash...white of course. Oh...and a new sink...

Then of course I have to figure out what color to paint the island. It is an off white, but I am unsure if I want to add another color or continue with a linen white?

If I missed any questions or you need more information please feel free to ask :)

I can't wait to see all of your updated cabinets!

Cole Slaw Recipe

Cole Slaw

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 4 tsp white vinegar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 tsp dry mustard
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt
• 2 bags (14 oz each) shredded cole slaw mix

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayo, vinegar, sugar, dry mustard, and salt until smooth.
2. Add in shredded cole slaw mix and fold over with spatula until completely coated. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours, or overnight. (I prefer it served after refrigerating overnight)
   

Caramel Peach Cobbler

ingredients:

Peaches

• 1½ to 2 lbs fresh peaches (about 3 or 4 large peaches), peeled, pitted and sliced, to equal 3 to 4 cups) -I use three cans for a 9x13 pan
• ⅔ cup light or dark brown sugar. You can also use all white sugar for a more predominant caramel over butterscotch flavor. See Notes *
• 1 tablespoon butter
• ¼ cup water
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• 3 tablespoons corn syrup (either light or dark is fine)
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ⅛ teaspoon salt

Batter **

• 1 stick of butter (4 oz), melted in the baking dish 
• 1 cup All-Purpose flour
• 1½ teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 cup milk
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

directions:

1. Combine the brown sugar and water in a saucepan and mix well. Bring to a boil then turn the heat to medium low and let simmer until the sugar is dissolved. Stir in the heavy cream, corn syrup, and butter and let simmer until it very lightly coats the back of a spoon. Stir in sliced the peaches and simmer for 2 more minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in vanilla extract and salt. -following measurements under the peaches section
2. Place the stick of butter in your baking dish and place in the oven on 350 degrees. Leave this dish in the oven while you prepare the batter.
3. In a bowl, mix the sugar, flour, baking powder and salt together. Slowly pour in the milk, stirring, to prevent clumps, until smooth. Stir in vanilla extract. Pour mixture over melted butter, but DO NOT STIR. Carefully spoon all the peaches and syrup on top of the batter. Do not mix or stir. You want three separate layers; 1. melted butter, 2. batter, 3. fruit in syrup.
4. Bake for 40-50 minutes. The batter will rise to the top and it's done when it's golden brown.

Taste best when served warm with Mayfield Homemade Vanilla ice cream :)

25 Pointless Things About Me

According to Facebook seven years ago today I was tagged in a "25 Random Things About Me" notes post. Clearly I was a slacker and ignored the nine people who "tagged" me in their post. I figure that since there was no timeline stated...like "since you have been tagged you have 24 hours to re-post or the devil will get'cha"...then I can just do it now.

So here goes....25 useless pieces of information about me.

1. I rub the seams on clothes, more preciously the seams on t-shirts. I asked my friends Mark and Marie to make me a "seam quilt" for my birthday. Let's see how much they love me ;)

2. I drink, on average, six to eight bottles of water a day. I refuse to drink water from the tap, only the bottle or from the door on the refrigerator.

3. I prefer white bedding and white towels. I love to be able to bleach any linens in the house...just makes things feel so much cleaner!

4. I have over thirty random skulls through out my house. While you will never notice most of them, I enjoy seeing them in the most random places!

5. I was a precious child. HAHAHA! Okay, Okay,  I was a complete strong willed brat. I have learned how to control myself as I have grown up...but I can only imagine how difficult it was to be my parents. (much like raising Houston)

6. I was "bullied" in elementary school...LOL because I was too skinny. The kids on the bus would chant "Boney Maroney the skinnest girl we've ever seen". 

7. I buy and wear WAY too much black clothing. I would say that 60% of my wardrobe is black.

8. I chose a sapphire wedding ring because the meaning behind the gemstone is loyalty. Sapphire is also the original engagement ring.

9. I do not like to sleep alone, if for some reason Danny isn't home I drag a kid or Memphis into my bed. 

10. I know every single word to "My Humps" by The Blackeyed Peas. 

11. The most played artist/bands on my iTunes are Project Pat, Juvenile, Bone Thugs, Marilyn Manson, Nirvana, Luke Bryan, and Adelitas Way. Basically...I am all over the place! LOL

12. I wore braces for nearly SIX years. I probably wouldn't have had to wear them that long if I followed the orthodontist orders. I may or may not have tried to take them off myself, bent parts that were uncomfortable with a spoon. I was a horrible patient!

13. I was given a head gear to wear...given being the key word. I NEVER wore it...really?? Who decided that was an excellent and needed device??

14. I love my car. I have researched other cars that I could possibly upgrade to, but I can't find anything I love as much as mine.

15. I really hate to read books. I can read  articles, blogs, the news...but if you hand me a novel I barely make it past the first page.

16. I go to the movies to take a nap...true story. I fall asleep during EVERY SINGLE MOVIE I watch.

17. I act more like my Maw, Peggy, than anyone else. I would dare to say that the majority of my personality is a weird mix of Peggy and John (my dad). It's what makes me so charming- said with sarcasm.

18. I feel like the most perfect person in the world when I look in Danny's eyes. He always encourages me, supports me, and loves me.

19. When I was a little kid I would call my grandparents and tattle tell on my parents for punishing me. Thankfully we don't have landlines anymore...or else I have a feeling that I have two little boys who would be calling to tattle on me!

20. I learned how to draw from spending countless hours drawing with my parents. We would all sit around the kitchen table and draw, paint, do arts and crafts.

21. I love cactus plants. I believe I picked this love up from my Granny...she had a love of all things Southwestern/Indian.

22. I am perfectly happy having only two children. I am actually getting pretty good at this boy mom thing.

23. I painted my living room brown because Danny likes brown. I personally HATE it...but it went with blue. So I compromised...he got brown and I got blue.

24. If I could go back and redo my career choices I might would consider doing something with surgery...surgical nurse or surgeon. Then again...I enjoy my freedom and time off so I probably wouldn't do it!

25. I rarely exercise. I know I should...I always have the best of intentions to complete a workout program...but then Netflix happens.

So there you have it....25 pointless random facts about me. If you don't share yours then "the devil will get'cha" LOL LOL kidding!

#candymail Updates/Changes/New Stuff

As exciting as Christmas season was, with it being #candymail's first major holiday, it was also extremely stressful. For those of you who have not heard already...I had to replace two entire batches of #candymail that was lost/stolen by the post office. As horribly frustrating and disappointing as that situation was it was an excellent learning experience. 

Due to the pricing of #candymail and the base cost of postage included, there were not tracking numbers on each piece. However, since I have had to replace so many around Christmas time I have started researching the most cost efficient way to provide tracking information on the mail. One of the things I love most about #candymail is that it is affordable. It is my goal to continue offering it at the same price with the option for an upgrade/additional charge for tracking information.

I am super excited to offer Valentine's Day Cards. The Valentine's Day cards will include:

-A 2.2"x3.2" Candymail card (Valentine Theme)

-ONE piece of candy

-ONE sticker 

-ONE temporary tattoo

-Hand lettered name on the envelope 

-Back of the card will be blank for your child to sign (or I can sign their name)

***** ONLY AVAILABLE FOR BULK ORDERS****

What does that mean? That means these will be done for class parties. Each card will $1.75 a piece (so 20 cards will be $35.00) and will only be available for pick up. THESE WILL NOT BE MAILED. If you are not in the local area I can check on pricing of mailing a back of these to you.

Valentine's Card Listing Here

Also available are Valentine's themed #candymail. These will just be pink color traditional #candymail cards with a valentines cartoon of choice on the front. I can turn any theme into a Valentine's cartoon. So order as usual...just note that it is a Valentine's theme. The traditional and Valentine's #candymail will be offered at $5.00 per child/individual.

Each #candymail Includes the following:

-A 5x7 Custom drawn envelope 

-A 5x7 #candymail card complete with a short note from you

-FOUR pieces of candy (no chocolate/jaw breakers/hard round candy)

-Mailed standard USPS (tracking will be offered as an upgrade soon)

#candymail Listing Here

I also want to sincerely thank each and every one of you for your support in helping me get so close to my goal. I am still amazed that in three short months I was able to get #candymail in 46 of the 50 states. What amazes me more is how supportive everyone has been. You guys ROCK!

Here's to a great 2016....and new goals! (and maybe knocking out those last four states!)

If you have any questions about any of our products please message me on Facebook, email me, or check me out on ETSY .

#candymail...WHAT'S THAT??

I am sure that I have FLOODED your news feed with my #candymail post. 

(Yes, I totally used a bitmoji that looks nothing like me...in my blog. )

Ok, seriously...I have been asked numerous times "What is Candy Mail?". So...here's the secret...It's candy..mailed. 

It is a 5x7 hand drawn envelope addressed to the person you choose, inside it has a note card with a personalized note (like a valentine or a card on flowers), and CANDY! It's extremely simple...and super fun!

I have always loved getting mail. Ask my husband, I am totally guilty of ordering things when I could easily go purchase them in town...JUST so I can have that brief Christmas morning feeling when I come home and there is a package by my door. The week of my birthday I tend race to the mailbox...I know that my Grananna is sending me a special card!

I wanted to pass that same love on to my boys...so I started mailing them things and ordering things for them. I would draw the envelopes up pretty and watch them race to the mailbox to get their prizes!

The idea soon spread and I was sending them to my niece and nephew...and my friends kids...and then it caught on with other people. I added a listing to my Etsy Shop and it has grown from there. 

Kid Stuff + Candy + Mail = Best thing ever!

So what is #candymail....it is only the coolest thing ever! It's a no reason, candy filled...valentine-wanna-be! 

To everyone who has ordered/sent #candymail...Thank you! I have seriously LOVED getting to make these and send them to your kids...almost as much as I have LOVED the photos of them when they get their mail!

If you want to send one (it doesn't have to be to just kids) check out the listing HERE and share the fun!

When you check out please make sure you provide the information below:

-Name of Child

-Address to be sent to

-Note inside & Who it's from

-Theme

I can do any theme...as long as it is "cartooned"...I am not a real artist and can't draw "real" stuff. HA!

Thank you again to everyone who has helped share and spread the word, who has bought #candymail, and those who have encouraged me to pursue doing what I love! You guys are the best!

Behind the scenes....

I was told the other day that I make motherhood look easy and fun. I seriously had nothing to say to that...I could only bust out laughing. I mean being a mom is hands down the best thing ever, but let's face it there is NOTHING easy about it. Well, except for loving your kids...that part comes easy..and often saves their lives!

"Beth, you make motherhood look so easy and like so much fun..." that statement just kept replaying over and over in my head. It helped me remember (and laugh....now) at some of the most embarrassing times, the hardest times, and the times I really wondered how I was going to make it until my boys were grown! I wanted to share a few of those with you!

When Bryson was about a year old (he started walking at 8 months so he was really mobile by a year) I got in the shower and left him playing with his toys. I had "Bryson proofed" everything and knew I had about 10 minutes to shower before he would pitch a fit. I was washing shampoo out of my hair and saw this neon green hand pry its way through the shower curtain...it was at this moment I wished I could have just turned into water and washed down the drain! I open the shower curtain only to find a curly haired, green monster  that is laughing hysterically. That was the day Bryson found a bottle of neon green craft paint and decided to empty it and finger paint my kitchen. It was also the day I realized he was smarter than any child proofing system I had tried.

Soon after that he found the baby powder....I had a powdery fresh house for months after that!

It wasn't long after that when Bryson and I moved back in with my parents. I was folding laundry one night and Bryson walks in with a chocolate covered face and black sharpie all over him. It was at that point that I learned he had discovered that my brother stashes sharpies and snacks in his room. Bryson felt that the best place to test out the sharpie was on the "big chair" in my parents living room. I don't know that I have ever prayed so hard...I basically cast the ink out of my parents NEW furniture!

And then along came Houston. From day one this child has never made things easy. Houston was an all natural child birth and he had colic for the first six months of his life. I am seriously not certain how Danny or I survived those six months...I don't know that we slept or could even talk over his constant screaming. I wish I could tell you that it was just as wonderful as a Lifetime movie portrays it...but the reality looked more like two zombies carrying around a cat in heat (yes, the screaming was a close second to that sound).

Ah...and Houston, also, found baby powder. Only he decided to empty it on our BRAND NEW tile floors with BLACK grout. We then had grayish grout....

Along with the arrival of Houston came the CONSTANT bickering and fighting. Fighting over who sits in which booster seat, fighting over who rides in the front of the shopping carts, fighting over who has more drink in their cup. I swear sometimes the way they show affection for each other is to bicker. Recently we went to Target. I got both boys a dumb little Power Ranger toy (they pitched fits for them) and on the way home they began arguing over which one had the red toy and which one bought the green one. The fighting got worse, and worse...when we arrived at home I told them to stand in the drive way and fight it out. When they were done they could come inside. Some how in their tired minds that turned it into "Mommy kicked us out of the house" and the MAJOR melt downs started....long story short when I couldn't stop the arguing over who got them "kicked out" (this all started over the green power ranger) I decided to "run away". I took my purse and handed Bryson the house key and started walking up the street. I told them to stay at the house...as I walked further and further away they just screamed louder. Needless to say...they didn't fight anymore that weekend...and if one of them tried the other would say "NOOOOO mommy will run away if we fight".

While we are on the subject of chaos...let's just talk about getting ready in the mornings. 

WHAT. A. NIGHTMARE.

HOLY...MOLY....BATMAN!

It is nearly impossible to get ready in the mornings. If we don't fight over their hair, or if we don't have an all out war over their outfits (which are usually the wrong seasons clothes), or if we successfully make it out of the house without leaving something or spilling a drink/food....WE HAVE HAD A GREAT DAY! By time I get Bryson on the school bus and Chubby to daycare I feel like I am suffering PTSD. (I say that jokingly...I know how serious PTSD is)

Once, Bryson hated the outfit I put on him...so he laid it on the floor in the bathroom and pee'd on it. Little sucker out smarted me...or so he thought...I just found the ugliest plaid pants I could find and made him wear mix matched clothes. Once he got to school he intentionally poured milk on himself so the teachers would change him. Try explaining to your boss that you have to leave work to go discipline your strong willed three year old...

See this photo? Shortly after this photo was taken Danny and I had to each throw a kid over our shoulders and literally run out of the ice rink. I am not sure what went wrong that day...we decided to enroll the boys in hockey lessons...about 10 minutes into that lesson they both completely lost it. EXTREME crying and sobbing...I have never been so embarrassed! I'm talking bawling so loud that the entire ice rink got quiet except for them! All the other parents were staring at us trying to figure out why the boys were so upset.  If I could have crawled under a rock...I would have!

I was washing my car a few months ago and Houston came up to me..."Mommy I color you car". I half way listened and said "Wow...thank you" and kept cleaning the passenger side of the car. I walked around to the drivers side only to discover that he has located markers and colored all down the side of my white car! My suburban looked like one big piece of fruit stripe gum!

Houston has also swallowed money (two pennies and a dime...in case you missed that update), we were sifting through poop for a few days.

Speaking of poop....I went to the mall with my friends this summer. We were letting the kids play on the rides in the food court and I went to order my food. I was in mid-order at Subway when my friend walks up behind me and whispers in my ear "Houston has had an accident and it's everywhere". I slowly turned and see my other friend (who shall remain anonymous) with a child on her hip violently gagging. I walk over to find Houston sitting in the little ride, surrounded by and covered with poop...he says "I sorry mommy"...

Managed to get that situation cleaned up without making a scene...HA!

My life may "look easy" but know that behind the scenes it is often chaos. My house is rarely picked up, my car is always full of cereal, my eyes constantly have bags under them...life as a mom is simply not easy. I never want to paint the image that my life is something that it is not...

I am just like every other mother out there....some days my life is TOTALLY fun...and others it feels like I have spent the day fighting  for my life in the Hunger Games. 

It's not always easy....but it is always worth it!

Here's to all the mom's out there! Please share your #momfails with me...so I don't feel as bad! LOL

Mother's Day

With Mother's Day coming up this weekend my news feed on Facebook has been flooded with all of the super sappy videos about what "Mom is to me". 

The one that really got me was the Pandora Jewelry video...holy moly I cried like a baby! You can watch that video here . Try to not cry! I know that I know my mom well enough to be able to find her blind folded. I know the sound she makes when she is walking...so this video was extra precious because of that!

Rather than some sappy video I figured I would share a few of my funniest and favorite memories of my mom. Which is probably more fitting since she isn't an emotional, huger, sappy-lovey-dovey type of mom.

One of my first memories of my mom is of her eight or nine months pregnant with Johnnie. She drove a two door Cutlass and I remember watching her try to pry herself out of that car. If you knew my mom back then, you understand why that image was so funny to me!

It wasn't long after that I remember walking through the hospital with my Dad to go meet my brother for the first time. I remember telling her that I didn't want a brother...

After having Johnnie home for a few weeks I "supposedly" walked into the living room in the middle of the night while they were up with screaming Johnnie (Johnnie cried so much as a baby) and informed them that they needed to take that baby to Maw's. My poor mother...raising a diva child and a child who had chronic ear infections.  That sounds fun :)

One of my next favorite memories of my mom is her trying to fix my hair when I was in elementary school. One morning she was trying to brush it and pull it up, I was obviously being dramatic and screaming "ouch" every time she tried to touch it. Next thing I know...WHACK...right on top of the head with the hair brush. Needless to say my dad ended up fixing my hair for a while...and he had zero sympathy when it came to tangles. Thanks to this experience I am not tender headed...HA..

I remember accidentally punching her in the nose one morning while she was trying to wake me up by tickling me...

I HATED the color red...and can't count how many fights we had over "I hate WED clothes"....

I have also been told that around this time period I may or may not have thrown a lizard on my mom at the park. I believe that I have blocked this memory, rumor has it that she was NOT a happy camper and I should be thankful that I made it through alive. 

Unlike most other moms in the world mine is special...she gets a pass when it comes to doctoring boo-boo's. Well...she can doctor your boo-boo IF you want to pick her up out of the floor when she faints. Which makes the night that Johnnie needed tons of stitches in his arm even funnier to me.

He came to the kitchen (showered and dressed) with a towel wrapped around his arm and said "Mom, don't look...but we need to go get stitches". She of course wouldn't look and drove him to the ER...I'm sure that she left sweaty hand prints on the steering wheel. Still don't know how she made it through this without fainting...

This fact about her also makes it so much more special that she was able to be in the room when both of my boys were born. Actually SHE was the ONLY one able to stand beside me during Houston's dramatic entrance. (Linda was having to make sure Danny and my mom  didn't faint)

One of my favorite things to do is to obnoxiously hug my mommy...we all know how much she loves hugs! (She hates to be hugged) I get so much joy out of watching her "tooth breathe" and growl at me after a huge bear hug. She can act mad...but if I was gone she would miss that annoyance! (You're welcome mom)

Speaking of tooth breathing....another favorite memory is when I was a teenager and I parked my car in her spot in the garage. NEVER EVER make that mistake. My mom, who is the most well balanced person I know, totally went tooth breathing mad on me. Since then I have never parked anywhere near her spot again! 

As a child it was not uncommon for her and my Aunt Lynn to chase me, Johnnie, and Brittany down and give us benadryl (when we were so tired we couldn't stand ourselves). According to those two benadryl was a cure all. "Ah you have a sunburn...here's some benadryl" 

Those two always were into something...remember the Sun-In days? Aunt Lynn convinced my mom that it was a great idea to use sun-in on her DARK BROWN hair. Enters my mom's red hair phase...

One summer (shortly after my parents built their house they are in now) Johnnie and I were home and decided that we would use the shower rod as a pull up bar. We ripped it off of the wall. That same summer we kept trying to turn her dining room into a "hospital" with bags of red food coloring and water mixed as pretend IV's. She didn't share our same creative thought process...her grown up mind was only worried about her brand new almost white carpet. 

That was also the year that I gave Johnnie a black eye...I learned really fast that Johnnie was "the baby" and NO BODY (not even Beth) messes with "the baby".

Growing up my teachers were constantly calling home or sending notes home to my parents. I was..umm...strong willed and active (sounds like Bryson). One year a teacher called home and told my mom that he was calling about her son....she laughed in his face and told him he had called about the wrong child "If you were calling about my daughter I would believe you...but that doesn't sound like anything my son would do". 

Of course I covered a few of my funny memories of her...but there is no way for me to cover the thousands of times she fixed my hair the right way. There is no way I can recall all of the times she survived a "Beth Fit" and no way to repay her for saving me from my blue eye shadow phase. (Yeah..that wasn't cute Beth)

The truth is our family wouldn't be what we were today if it wasn't for my mom holding down the fort. She cooks dinner for us every night, keeps our house clean, works a full time job, never misses a ballgame, takes care of her mom (and used to care for her dad), helps with my kids, and balances church/friends in with that mix. You all think I am super mom....WRONG...I am nothing compared to my mom.

Happy Mother's Day to my fancy mommy! It's been a fun 29 years of pushing you to your limits and a wonderful 25 years of fighting over which kid is your favorite. There is no one else that could have raised me and Johnnie! Only you were strong enough! (Now you get to do round two...with my boys)

We love you!