Lovelies...

I'm a shopper.

I have no intentions of trying to dissuade the notion that girls love to spend, because I'm all for it.

It's simply a little harder when you don't have a bottomless bank account!

So while I love to drool over places like Ballard Designs, Pottery Barn and Anthropology...

I'm actually more of a Target, Old Navy, Yard Sale type of girl.

But just for fun, would you like to go on a spending spree??

I've been holding out for years for a metal bed for my room, have yet to find one free on the side of the road, can't imagine why.

  How about this bed ??!!

With THIS  hanging over it!

all the goodness here is almost overwhelming!

And I have been talking myself out of these prints for about 6 months...

Print #1

Print #2

Seriously.  I will not buy these, I will not buy these.

Okie Dokie...moving on...

Take a look at all the yumminess HERE!

How about 

This cute lil Number

to wear while doing dishes??

this one?

Or

how 'bout this one?

from one of my new favorite stores I've never actually shopped at!

(add a few inches to mine please and thank you)

lovin' this too

with this and this!

now we need shoes...

these?  or these??

Okay.

My virtual money is spent.

Thanks for shopping with me,

till next time...

God Bless,

Mandy

Do You Need to Have "THE TALK" With Your Kids??

Okay, so I'm jumping into the deep end here.

My oldest is 9.

As conservative as we are as a family on what he views, hears, etc., I'm pretty sure there are things he hears at school and around that make him wonder what in the world that means.

So how do I handle it??

By doing what I do best...

buying a book on the subject.

No people I wasn't prepared to jump right in on my own (on my own means of course with my husband completely speechless by my side).

I still blush when buying undergarments for Pete's sake.

No, seriously , I do.

I have to hide it under other items in the carts,

on the conveyor belt,

and then distract myself with something to do as the checker rings me up.

And we're talking at wal-mart, not some skimpy lingerie shop!

So ya, I've been feeling a tad anxious about this conversation.

That's where the book comes in.

A Chicken's Guide To Talking Turkey With Your Kids About Sex

Authored by Dr. Kevin Leman and Kathy Flores Bell.

you can buy it here:

here

This book is from a Christian perspective, and is full of great information.

There is a whole lot to it that goes beyond the birds and bees conversation, it talks about parenting styles that can set your child up for self discipline, responsibility, etc, that then prepare them for making good choices when it comes to sex.

I admit some of it scares the daylight out of me, and reading this has not eliminated all my fear in approaching this topic.

What it has done is shown me how to be no nonsense straight forward age appropraite with our kids, reinforced crucial life skills your child needs to obtain through the parent to have the confidence to make those good choices, and given me a jumping off point.

I would highly recommend this book to any parent.

  I would also highly NOT recommend you walking into your back yard and yelling above your husbands drilling

"Hey Honey, you know that Chicken Sex book I'm reading??"

Because it could send the entirely wrong message to your neighbors.

Not that I did that or anything!

God Bless,

Mandy

Rant and Multititude Monday

First for the rant:

  Am I the ONLY parent in the US of A that HATES school fundraisers???

Call me a bad mama if you will, but I can't stand having my own door knocked on 3,000 times a school year asking for pledges, or to buy candy bars or a wrapping paper tube that costs $13.00.

I'm going to say something that makes me sound further like the wicked witch of the West-

I don't let my kids participate.

Yep, not at all.

I will give them a few bucks for their up and coming jog-a-thon, that's it.

They aren't even allowed to ask grandma let alone the old lady down the street on social security.

Yes, it's nice to go on field trips or have fun events.

But I find it down right rude to ask people to fork over their hard earned cash for my child to go to a museum.

And even family gets hit up so many times by so many kids that I have called a ban on all fundraisers in this home.

Rant over.

  On to multitude Mondays:

( where I am adding to my blessing list in hopes of reaching 1,000!)

41. nutella

42. uncontrollable giggles

43. my hunky hubby

44. ice

45. green grass

46. Monkey 1 being interested in music and beginning the violin

47.   colors

48. apple muffins

49. a pretty prairie skirt

50.inspirational blogs

51. the privilege to vote

52. birds singing

53. my cowgirl boots

54. white picket fences

55. old bricks

56. floral prints

57. homemade chicken pot pie

58. new friendships

59. the old ones too

60. feeling energetic

do I have issues??

I'm realizing how many 'food' blessing I count!!

What are you grateful for?

And please tell me I'm not a bad mom for hating fundraising!

God Bless,

Mandy

Spoken For, by Mercy Me

Take this world from me

Don't need it anymore

For I am finally free

My heart is spoken for

Oh and I praise You

Oh and I worship You

Chorus:

Covered by a love divine

Child of the risen Lord

To hear You say "This one's mine"

My heart is spoken for.

Now I have a peace

That I've never known before

I find myself complete

My heart is spoken for

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's amazing to me that He has spoken for me. 

  That I am HIS.

So are YOU...
just ask Him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank You Lord,

Mandy