New Blog Address!

Well, since my friends & family have voiced their opinions about the new blog versus the old blog, I think I've decided to make the switch! I'm moving, so please note (and update) my new blog address: www.chaoticadventures.wordpress.com. I've also linked the address to the new blog, so feel free to come on over!!! Don't dessert me just because I'm moving on...we can still be friends, right?

I'm Indecisive Too!

Giving props where props are due...I stole the title of this post from Notes on a Napkin.

Ok, so I've been going crazy trying to set-up a "test blog" at Wordpress, but it's driving me nuts. Take a look and let me know what you think! What I'm not liking about Wordpress is the photo upload capability. Though you can upload photos, it seems to limit the size - and it's very cumbersome to do. If I had a reason to change from Blogger, it would be the fact that the template was so easy to customize and change to fit my desires, unlike the Blogger templates that are already set-up and require that you know how to write code (which I think is HTML) to change. I do not know how to write code and neither does my local in-house geek, which leaves me stuck with whatever Blogger gives me. I like flexibility, which Wordpress seems to have. Well, until it comes to modifying your font and font size - haven't figured that out either! But whichever forum I choose, it needs to be stupid-proof, and I'm not sure that Wordpress is... Anyway, thanks to Katrina for enlightening my blogging horizons :)

Find a Cure!

Are you aware that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month?

As many of you know, I lost my mother, Shirley Vanzant, to breast cancer more than 5 years ago, so to me, awareness is everything. But being aware isn't enough; we need to be proactive in prevention and early detection. If you haven't done so already, go here to make a donation to help find a cure for this awful disease that affects approximately 120 in 100,000 women annually*. If you know of someone that has been affected by breast cancer, you can make the donation in her honor or memory. If you are blessed enough to not know someone that has had to fight this disease, but want to donate anyway, it would be an honor for you to do so in my mother's memory. And, while you're there, read the latest information on early detection and prevention. Learn something, then pass it along to the women in your life! And, while you're at it, make a point to click here daily. Doing so could mean the difference between life & death for a needy woman!

*Statistic found at www.komen.org

She's Finally Here!

From the sounds of the title, you'd think I was speaking of a baby...well, she is my baby if you consider she's only 6 weeks old :) I've named her Mia Joy - we'll stick with calling her Mia (pronounced Me-uh). Mia means "mine" - which she most definitely is - and Joy speaks for itself. So, here's hoping that she will be the sweetest little puppy that every lived - my joy!

Deep, Dark Secret

Ok, so I have a confession...I am not a neat-nick! There, I've said it!!! I feel so much better :) Well, sort of, anyway. Ok, so that statement isn't necessarily true - I do like things to be cleaned and in their place, but I do not enjoy being the one that does it. I would much rather pay someone else to do it for me, thus the reason I so loved my Valentine's Day gift this last February. Anyway, I tend to just turn a blind eye to clutter, until it suddenly bugs me so badly that I cannot think of anything else. This sends me into a cleaning fit, whereby things suddenly start to disappear - right into the trash!

Here, let me give you a small glimpse into my world - our upstairs playroom:

Here is the before. Notice that there is very little floor showing through the toys scattered here & there. This room as been in this condition for 2 cleanings - or 4 weeks. I know what you're thinking, but please don't say it. I thought the same thing every time I passed by, but it was so much easier to simply pull the door closed, or to tell guests at Ian's birthday party last weekend to simply "stay downstairs". I've been very well intentioned over the last month, telling myself each & every Tuesday or Thursday that I must clean the playroom, but there was always something else to do, which left the playroom as last on my to-do list. Do I dare admit that even the kids wouldn't enter this room for fear of impaling themselves on a stray Lego or Kinex? (I was going to take more thorough pictures, but I couldn't get into the room without hurting myself, so these were taken from the doorway - really, really sad, I know!)

And, here is the after. A mere 2 1/2 hours later, and our playroom is now 'playable' again. Generally when cleaning upstairs, I require the kids to help. But, in order to do any real cleaning (which means that I can actually get rid of months & year's worth of broken kid's meal toys and junk), I must be left alone. When I try to throw things out with the kids nearby, my trash bag inevitably ends up empty and the broken toys end up back in the bins! Notice the 2 trash bags standing near the couch? One is full and over-flowing, the other is about 1/2 full, and awaiting the next room on the agenda. Now, the trick will be to keep it cleaned! Otherwise, I will be at this again in about 2 months, and I'm sure that's a very positive estimate on my part.

Ah! I feel much better after getting that off of my chest :) Now, on to Morgann's room...