Her Favorite Color is Golden

Yesterday my baby turned 8.

*sniff*

How can my BABY be 8?!?!

Yesterday she was like this.

I teared up several times last night as we watched her baby videos (we had never watched them before now).  And I may have even said to Lazy Dad, "that makes me want to have another baby!"

But I've slept since then.

And remembered how sleepless those newborn nights are.

So I'm good now.

I think.

But just look how BIG my kids are!!!

11, 9 and 8. What pumpkins!

At her request, we took the birthday girl to Olive Garden for lunch.  (She's got expensive taste. I began to realize this when as a toddler she told me her favorite color is "golden." I pray for her husband daily.)

Her new doll went with us too.

Sporting her cute new Sew Fun Design clothes.

But not before I was interviewed by the CUTEST new News Anchor for Barbie Action News.

She even interviewed our back yard neighbor who is an actual news anchor.  (He was such a good sport.)

We had a fabulous day celebrating such a special girl.

I thank God for her!

--
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My Very First Lazy Mom TEEN Tip!

Before today I have never posted a Lazy Mom Teen Tip.  You know, a tip for parenting teens? 

But a couple of weeks ago I saw a fantastic tip floating around on Facebook that I just HAD to share with all of you!

I wish I could say I came up with it by myself, because it's so awesome, but alas, I didn't.  But if you'd like to give me secondary credit for it, I'm okay with that.

Here it is!

ISN'T THAT AWESOME?!?!?!

Teens today are so "connected" and boy, not having the wifi password will certainly make them jump (I would think).

Obviously, you would need to have wifi in your house for this tip to work, but seriously y'all... this tip is so amazing, it might be worth you GETTING wifi in your house just to use it!

You parents with wifi and teens out there, let us know how this works!  I think this is BRILLIANT.

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Monday Musings {On Tuesday}

{1} At 4am on Saturday night I woke up to a beeping sound. After a few minutes I finally realized it was Lazy Dad's nose whistling.

True story.

{2} This weekend we went to a Jellystone campground for the first time.  It was SO crowded (too many people for me), but the kids had fun.  Especially on these ginormous jumping pillows!

Even my friend Carrie and I got in on the action.  I laughed hysterically the entire time we were jumping.  Then made an incredible dismount that nearly landed me in the surrounding fence.  All while Lazy Dad just stood there and watched.

Then Carrie made the same incredible dismount while her Dr. Hubby just stood there and watched.

I think they were too busy talking about how much their wife's insurance policies were for to bother catching us.

{3} While camping this weekend, we passed the CUTEST antique store.

I told you it was cute.

I went inside and found a dinner bell I've been wanting!!! I was so super excited.

Now I can ring it to round up the kids when I'm ready to drive them to McDonald's for dinner.

{4} Also while camping, I discovered that we had unclassified potatoes with us.

I personally like potatoes that are classified, but whatever.

{5} While packing the camper for our camping trip, I bought some doughnuts. 

I asked around on Facebook and Twitter if I should finish off that lone little half of a doughnut laying there.

The resounding cry of the people of the world was, "EAT IT!"

So I did.

Before I had even hit send on that status update.

Minor details.

{6} We went out to a local Mexican restaurant with our worship leader and his wife.  He really gets into the whole "let's go out to eat at a Mexican restaurant" theme.

We laughed so hard taking this picture! Then we noticed leaning up against the wall ANOTHER cut-out.

AHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I am TOTALLY buying some of these for my next Mexican themed party.  It's too hysterical not too.

--
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What?! They Let Her Out in Public?!

As of this year, I've had a lot more opportunities to speak at various events.  Ladies events, MOPS meetings, women's retreats, Chamber of Commerce gigs, Kids Camps... you get the idea.

And, YES, I know what y'all are thinking...

"What?! They let her out in public?!"

Yup.  They sure do.

I speak on a wide variety of topics.  Blogging, Social Media Marketing, How to be Gorgeous and Not Let it go to Your Head, Jesus, Being a Mom, Faith, etc.

What? 

Oh, THAT one.  Well... I... you know... it's just so HARD being gorgeous these days.

Anyway, just this Sunday I preached the house down at our church.

Well, okay, it didn't come down... but I think it thought about it!

AND, this Fall I'll be speaking at some of the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library branches.  As of right now I'll be at the Holland Branch on September 17th and the Sanger Branch on September 18th, both at 7pm, speaking on "How Social Media Can Help Your Business Grow!"

If you live in the Toledo area, and want to learn more about Social Media (it will benefit you even if you aren't a business owner) I'd love to see you there!

And okay, I need some screaming, adoring fans there for moral support.

Hahahaha!  Just kidding!  I know I don't have any.

*sniff*

BUT, if it fancies you, come on out anyway!  You can even reserve your spot for the class on the library website.

And, hey! If you're ever in need of a team to come in and do an event, my friend JulieAnn Pratt and I can hook you up.  And gosh, I know other amazing ladies that we could pull in too, for that matter!

I like, totally promise I can be a responsible mature adult at your event.

I have references.

That are real people, mind you!

Just shoot me an email for more info, mkay?

Mkay.

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How to Teach Your Kids to Swallow a Pill {A Lazy Mom Tip}

People! Prepare yourself for Lazy Mom Tip awesomeness....

Let me begin at the beginning. (It's a very good place to start.)

While my kids were in Wisconsin, my daughter had a cold. Her nose was so congested that she needed to take a pill to help dry it up.

Except I can never get her to swallow a pill!

But my brilliant mother-in-law, facing this dilemma on her own for a week, came up with the absolutely, tee-totally, bestest way to get your children to swallow a pill!

Her plan involved applesauce and trickery.

See? I told you she was brilliant.

She told my daughter that she was going to give her two spoonfuls of applesauce and that she was going to put the pill in one of the spoonfuls, but she wouldn't know which one.

AND IT WORKED!

My daughter easily swallowed the pill.

No crying, no gagging, no frustration. Down it went.

Just today when my daughter needed to take one of the pills, she instructed me to give her two spoonfuls of applesauce, but not tell her which one the pill was in.

She turned her back to me while I hid the pill in the first spoonful, then down the hatch it went. She turned back around again while I prepared a second spoonful without a pill, and down the hatch it went!

My daughter absolutely insists that she can't tell which spoonful holds the pill!

Brilliantness!

So thanks to my dear mother-in-law, you too can now teach your kids to swallow a pill!

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Is This How Life Was Before Kids?

With the kids gone this week I've actually been a little bored.

*gasp!*

I know, I know.  That sounds very unlazymom like of me, but it's true!

The house stays clean with them gone... the laundry's a breeze to keep up with... the dishes don't pile up... I'm not interrupted while I work on the computer... and because of all of this, I've been left with some time on my hands where I genuinely feel a bit like, "now what?"

Is this how life was before kids?  Cause if it was, Lazy Dad and I should have enjoyed that a bit more.

I mean, nothing replaces the joy kids bring, and I miss them a lot, but it is truly nice to have a week where you remember what life was like before they were around!  Amen?

Last night, Lazy Dad was off helping at a Kids Crusade in a town about 30 minutes away, and I was having one of those "now what?" moments.  So I decided to clean up the pantry a bit.

Okay, okay... I was really hunting for a package of chocolate cake mix I thought I still had.  Which, apparently I didn't have, because as I straightened up the pantry while hunting for it, it was no where to be found.

BUT!  I did happen to find all the ingredients for Lazy Apple Crisp!  And even though it's not Fall yet, who needs Fall to have an apple crisp?  Am I right, or am I right?!

(Seriously, go make that recipe.  It's so easy!!)

So I threw together the ingredients, popped it in the oven and plopped myself down to read a new book I picked up at the library yesterday.

And as I'm reading, I come across this...

Uh, did you see that?!

Middle paragraph, fourth line, fourth word in.

NACOGDOCHES.

Well, wad'yaknow!  That's my hometown!  In a book!  And then the author continued to mention Nacogdoches and the "Piney Woods" several more times in that chapter!

Gosh, I'm ready to go home this November!  It will have been over two years since I've stepped foot in the good ol' Piney Woods of East Texas come then.  (see this recap post on the last time I visited.)

I'm ready to eat Kolaches, buy my kids cowboy boots, talk with a Southern drawl to people who have a Southern drawl.  I'm ready to see the old familiar sites, relive memories at every corner, and see my family.

Ahhhhh.

Anyway! While I read my book, the apple crisp bubbled away.  I pulled it out of the oven and then realized that you can't eat an apple crisp without vanilla ice cream?!?!

So I threw on some shoes and hopped in the car and ran to the store real quick-like, just like I used to before I had kids and the whim would hit me.

And came back home and promptly ate half of the apple crisp all by myself.

*burp*

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How Two Pastor's Wives do NYC and BlogHer

So after my blog post yesterday that made very little sense (if any), I thought I'd try to rebound today with a bit of New York City/BlogHer talk.

Yes.  This should go way better than yesterday.

First off, Jenilee and I drove to NYC from Toledo.  And at the last minute decided to leave early and drive through the night.  We actually were quite proud of how far we made it.  We didn't stop until about 5am when we pulled over at a McDonald's in Pennsylvania and slept for a few hours in the car.

I have NEVER done that before in my life.  Have you?  Pulled over and slept in the car somewhere?  It was very strange. 

But actually the 10 hour drive wasn't that bad at all.  I told Lazy Dad that now that I know how easy of a drive that is, we should just hop in the car one day and high-tail it to New York City!

It was a lot of this though.

And this...

Gosh, I look so good the morning after I drive all night and sleep in a car for three hours. It's that Jenilee that doesn't seem to hold herself together quite as good as I do.

*major sarcasm alert*

(How can Jenilee look THAT cute after a night spent in the car?!)

Moving on.

Once we got to NYC, we easily drove to the parking garage we were using for the weekend and walked a block to our hotel.  

The Wingate by Wyndham in midtown Manhattan.  People!  If you ever stay in NYC, I HIGHLY recommend this hotel.

And I don't recommend it just because I'm a HUGE hotel junkie.
Or because I'm a MAJOR Wingate by Wyndham fan (remember these blog posts?)
Or even because I'm a travel blogger for Wyndham Women on Their Way this year. (Woot!)

No, no.

I recommend it because it was FANTASTICAL.

The entire hotel staff (from the cleaning team to the front desk) was super friendly and went out of their way to make our stay comfortable.  They even held our bags for us since we arrived earlier than scheduled so we could hit the city some before check-in!

The rooms were nice and spacious (especially for NYC) and they had mini-refrigerators and all the other usual amazing perks to staying at a Wingate by Wyndham (free hot breakfast and free wi-fi, anyone?)

Anyway!  Jenilee and I hit the highlights of NYC and had a great time doing it.

See Central Park back there?

Yup.  Two pastor's wives just hanging out in the city that never sleeps.

*smile*

And then!  Oh, people!  THEN, the craziness of BlogHer ensued!

Booth after booth after booth of companies.

I took that picture for my friend Carrie who believes Bounty paper towels will be in heaven.

Then I took this picture and tweeted it to Lazy Dad.

You know, because Lazy Dad and I can't pass by a Hot Pockets display without snickering a little bit thanks to Jim Gaffigan's comedy routine.

Also at BlogHer, I might have been pampered a bit.

Massages, chocolates, free swag.  It was heavenly.

I even plopped myself down on this display bed and declared I was spending the day here and "you just try and stop me!"

It's a rough life being a blogger, but somebody's got to do it.

And HELLO!  Did I mention the free swag?

Jenilee and I had to get a hotel rolley thingy just to get the swag out the door!

It was too much fun!  (and BlogHer definitely pays for itself!  I more than made back my money in free products and giveaway prizes alone! Woohoo!)

Even these three cuties benefited from all the swag... I made them their own swag bags when I got home.

Woo!

Have you been to NYC or BlogHer before? 

--
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Empty Nesters

Warning! This blog post makes no sense whatsoever.  So if you are looking to read a post that has complete thoughts, smooth transitions, and sense, don't read this post.  You've been warned.

Lazy Dad and I are empty nesters this week.  Our three kids have gallivanted off to Wisconsin to spend the week with their grandparents.

So you know what Lazy Dad and I did last night?

This.

Yup.  We spent a romantic kidless night folding laundry.  It's just like we're newlyweds!

In other news, we have another house showing tonight.  Have I told you how NOT fun it is to have house showings?

AND, all my kids aren't here to help me whip this house into shape!  Sometimes I forget how much my kids help me until they're gone.

Well, and sometimes I forget how clean my house can actually stay with them gone, too.  But that's all relative.

Or, something like that.

Did I tell you that while I was at BlogHer I met Lysa TerKeurst?

And did I also tell you how she looks EXACTLY like my back door neighbor?  Seriously.  They could be twins separated at birth.

And did I ALSO tell you how I acted like a big weirdo in front of her?  Which I also did when I bumped into The Pioneer Woman when she came walking out of the ladies room?

What's with me and acting like a big weirdo with people I meet?

*sigh*

In closing, I'll leave you with these faces I miss.

And with the hope that tomorrow I'll actually write a blog post that makes some sense.

The end.

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Who Wants to See Phineas and Ferb LIVE? *Raise Your Hand* {Discount Code and a Local Giveaway}

You local Northwest Ohio/Southeast Michigan peeps, pay attention!  There's a giveaway for you below and a discount code!

How many of you mom's out there have kids that watch Phineas and Ferb?

Now, we aren't normally big TV show advocates... and I'm not necessarily saying we are with this one, but we discovered this pretty funny cartoon about a year ago after my kids were exposed to it during a trip to Grandma and Grandpa's.

And okay, y'all know how I like to laugh, right?  Well, this show delivers on that.  Because the FUNNIEST part of the show is the evil Dr. Doofenshmirtz and Perry the Platypus.

Can I get an Amen from the back row on that?

I seriously laugh so hard at Dr. Doofenshmirtz's flashbacks and quirky personality.  So I was pretty pumped when I found out Disney’s Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever! was coming to our local SeaGate Convention Centre on Sept. 1st! 

Um, I mean, MY KIDS were pumped!  Yeah... that.... *ahem*

See?  I totally stood in a long line at Disney World with my daughter so she could meet them.

 Disney’s Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever!
Playing the SeaGate Convention Centre – Sept. 1
Show Times: 1pm/4pm
Regular Ticket Prices: Front Row - $50, VIP - $30, $20, $14

If you'd like a discount code for the show, you can use code BLOG4 at the Huntington Center Box Office, online at ticketmaster.com or by phone at 1-800-745-3000 to SAVE $4 PER ticket on regularly $20 & $14 seating. This offer is valid July 16-Sept. 1, 2012.

*Disclaimer: Discounts do not apply to Front Row and VIP seating. No double discounts. Offer subject to ticket availability. Service charges, facility and handling fees may apply.

Learn more about Phineas and Ferb's live show on Disney's website.

Giveaway: Enter to WIN free passes to the Phineas and Ferb LIVE show at the SeaGate Center Sept. 1st!!  Simply leave a comment below this blog post and a way to contact you and you're entered to win!  (Must live in NW Ohio or SE Michigan, or be willing to drive to Toledo for the show!)

Dislosure: I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows and opportunities to attend private Feld pre-Show events. Even though I receive these benefits, I always give an opinion that is 100% mine. The Walt Disney Company is neither a sponsor nor endorser of this sweepstakes.

--
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Lazy Mom Tip #61

Oh, my fellow lazy moms!  Have I got a juicy new tip just waiting to make your life easier!

A lot of you know of my friend Carrie.  She gets me in trouble is such a great friend of mine that makes me do things I don't want to laugh HARD.

But what you may not know about Carrie is that she is truly one of the most fun moms around.  (Seriously, I kind of wish I was one of her kids.  Except not.)

She's always letting her three boys do stuff that looks like so much fun, stuff a mom would normally freak out over, she encourages.  You know, she's one of those moms.  The one we all wish we were a little more like.

Anyway!  A couple of weekends ago we went out to dinner together.  Me and Lazy Dad and her and her OB Doctor hubby.

Yes, that's right... I failed to mention she's married to an OB doctor before now.  This makes for all kinds of... shall we say... interesting dinner conversation?

But on this particular night Carrie shared with me one of the BEST Lazy Mom Tips I'd heard in a long while.  It was so brilliant I had to email it to myself immediately so I wouldn't forget about it.

And here it is....

Are you ready for it...?

KID OF THE DAY!

This Kid of the Day tip works wonders if you have multiple children.  In fact, the more children you have, the better this tip becomes!

Each child takes turns being the Kid of the Day.  The perks to being Kid of the Day?  Getting to make tie-breaker decisions between the kids. You know, those decisions that normally result in argument inducing headaches for mom to deal with? Yeah, that.

For instance...

• who's movie to watch first. 
• who's turn is it to sit up front.
• who goes first on the video game or board game.
• where we go for dinner (if there's a choice the kids are voting on).
• who gets to open the letter from Grandma.

The list could go on and on, my friends, but do you get the general idea?

Now, I know what you all are thinking.... isn't this just one more thing for me to have to try and remember, which kid is the Kid of the Day?

But Carrie insists that the BEST part of this tip as that the kids do all the remembering!  She never has to stop and think which kid is Kid of the Day, because they are all on top of it for her!  They can't wait to be Kid of the Day!

You know what else I love about this Lazy Mom Tip?  It's teaching your kids how to wait their turn, be happy for the Kid of the Day, and realize that it's not all about THEM every day, but to think of others as well! 

SCORE!

So thanks for sharing this great tip with us Carrie! 

If you have a great Lazy Mom Tip, be sure and share it with us too!  Either leave a comment below or to perhaps be featured on the blog as a Lazy Mom Tip, follow these guidelines.

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Chicken Enchilada Bake {A Lazy Mom Recipe}

It's that age-old question that has lazy moms all over the world waking up from sweet peaceful afternoon naps in a cold sweat with panic and dread and fear...

"Mommy, what's for dinner?"

(And okay, none of us get sweet peaceful afternoon naps, but let's pretend we do, mkay?)

Never fear lazy moms!  I'm here to help with yet another lazy recipe that will get you through another day of that terror.

Lazy mom Lisa emailed me this recipe several months ago, and, well, I'm just now getting around to sharing it with you. 

Take it away Lisa!

I'm LAZY and technically challenged but, I promise, this is a wonderful Lazy Mom recipe!

CHICKEN ENCHILADA BAKE

4 1/2 cups cubed cooked rotisserie chicken
1-28oz. can green enchilada sauce
1 1/4 cups sour cream
9 corn tortillas (6 inch), cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces (Don't worry...you don't have to get your ruler out! I just tear them into pieces.)
4 cups (16 oz.) shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Combine chicken, enchilada sauce and sour cream in a bowl. In a greased 13 X 9 baking dish, layer half of the chicken mixture, then half the torn tortillas, then 2 cups of the cheese. Repeat layers.

Cover and bake for 40 minutes at 375 degrees. Uncover; bake 10 minutes longer or until bubbly. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

Photo Credit: Taste of Home

And THAT, my fellow lazy moms... is what's for dinner tonight! (Thanks for sharing Lisa!) 

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Let the Back-to-School Spending Spree Commence

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Famous Footwear. All opinions are 100% mine.

Can you believe it is time to start thinking about back-to-school?!

Okay, okay, if you're a super mom then you've already been thinking about back-to-school, but give us lazy moms a break... we're just now starting to think about it!

(Can I get a witness?)

With back-to-school comes all the school supplies, clothes, back packs and SHOES one must buy!  Luckily for us this year, we are skipping the whole back-to-school spending spree as we are bringing our kids home this year for online schooling.  (We're super excited about it, and I'll share more with you about that another day).

But even though we don't have to go through the hub-bub of all the back-to-school preparedness drama this year, we did still have to buy our kids new shoes.  My boys are at that age where they are going through shoes like crazy!

So hows about a lazy mom deal for you?

Famous Footwear has hundreds of brand name shoes and thousands of styles. Total bonus? Lazy moms can get in and get out quickly because their stores are not overwhelming and they're easy to shop in.

Or, if you are REALLY a lazy Lazy Mom, you can shop Famous Footwear online - www.famous.com!  You can even have them shipped to your closest store for pick-up at no charge!  BAM!

How's that for lazy back-to-school shopping?

Check out Famous Footwear's back-to-school deals right now....

15% off (20% off if you are a Rewards member or sign up to become a Rewards member)
+
BOGO (Buy One, Get One Half Off)

If you join Famous Footwear's FREE Rewards Program you'll get the following perks -
• Earn 1 point for every $1 you spend in-store or online
• Accumulate points to earn certificates up to $100 a year
• Discount offer just for signing up
• Other special inside discounts and perk

So get to shopping!  Print this money savings coupon and use it by August 18th!

BOGO + 15% off Famous Footwear Coupon

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NEW YORK CITY?! {And a McDonald's Giveaway!}

So, in case you missed it, the general consensus on Lazy Dad's anniversary card he gave me was that the card was confusing.  TO SAY THE LEAST.

Lots of people thought that Lazy Dad should have gone with a totally different card and a much more mushy gushy one, at that. Which ultimately would have scored him bigger points.

Okay, nobody really said that last part... just me. 

Speaking of Lazy Dad, I'm leaving him.

Hold your horses! Hold your horses!

I'm leaving him for the weekend.  Don't get your panties in a wad!

Yes!  I'm heading back to New York City (this will make my fourth visit) for the HUGE blogging conference BlogHer.  I meant to write a bunch of clever (and lazy) posts before I left and schedule them to go out while I was gone, but uh.... it didn't happen.  Life's been too busy lately.  So you may have to fend for yourself around here while I'm gone.

Oh!  And did I mention I'm going to BlogHer with this gal?

Jenilee arrived at my house tonight and we are leaving later to drive to NYC!  Woot!

If you want to follow along with the road trip/BlogHer fun, you can follow on twitter or on facebook.

If you don't want to follow along with the road trip/BlogHer fun, then ignore twitter and facebook for the weekend, mkay?

If you see Jenilee and I on the I-80, be sure and honk and wave!  Oh don't worry, you'll be able to spot which car is ours....

We decked out our car with lots of fun Uppercase Living!  They helped sponsor our road trip with these cute and fun vinyl expressions!  Which really meant a lot to me seeing that I've been an Uppercase Living Demonstrator for almost 5 years now.

So tweet us if you see us!!

Along the way we'll also be making some stops at McDonald's to take advantage of their under 400 calorie menu.  Have you seen all the items they have under 400 calories?  It's actually a lot more than you might think!

(Oh! And they have a fun Olympic promotion going on right now... peel game pieces off their under 400 calorie menu items and win instantly or enter codes online for a chance to win big!)

And speaking of McDonald's, if you'd like a chance to win FREE McDonald's "Be Our Guest" coupons for items on the under 400 calorie menu (open to any U.S. resident), simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below.  You can do as little or as much on the form as you like, but each one you choose to do is an entry to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
See you on the flip side!

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