Dear Mlouise,

This is a fun post I found via OHML and COEX. Very therapeutic. Highly suggest it to one and all.
Dear 9 year old Mlouise,

You are in 5th grade and you just found out you have scoliosis bad enough to be sent to a specialist. This brings a whole new set of challenges to your life, including a not so fun experience with an x-ray technician. I look back at you and wonder how you handled this so well. All of it. I can't believe all that you have already been through in your life, from the FBI to your house burning down while your whole family was sleeping inside, its crazy to me that you were so put together. You get an absolutely AWFUL perm and started to realize that being pretty was something to worry about. You were freaking awesome at softball, although this was one area that you doubted yourself. You shouldn't have because you were great.

Dear 12 year old Mlouise,

You recently found out you have to have back surgery because your scoliosis is so bad. You wore a back brace at night for over a year and your spine didn't stop curving. You are now growing side-ways. Its a great look. Your grandmother just died and this completely rocked your world. But don't worry, because somehow for the rest of your life you will feel her with you. You get back surgery and you rocked it. Grew two inches in a 4 hour time period and now have a cool scar on your back that will be a conversation starter for years to come. You are in show choir and you LOVE it. Your dad has already been to jail and is back again. Your family didn't lose the business and things are starting to fall back into "normal." You start to suspect that your parents aren't going to be together forever. You start dying your hair blonde. I kind of want to go back and give you a big hug. You are cute and you don't think so and you are WAYYYYY to worried about it. You also fret about getting fat wayyy too much. xoxo girlfriend.

Dear 13 year old Mlouise,

You get your first solo in show choir this year and you rocked it. You don't think so though...but I have VHS video to prove it girl. I am so proud of you. You also help your basketball team in ways you never thought you could. You are a bit too caddy to your friends for my own taste...which is too bad but I know it was because you were so insecure. Again, wish I could go back and tell you how fantastic you were. You dyed your hair auburn for a hot second (and have a picture to prove it as 8th grade pictures were the next day)...this was not a good look for you sweetie. You had your very first kiss at the movie theater with your boyfriend watching "So I married an ax murderer." That boyfriend would go down in history as being one of the kindest. That break up was way too brutal for 8th grade though. You wore a white dress with white panty hose to your eighth grade graduation that you purchased at DEB.

Dear 16 year old Mlouise,

A lot has happened in three years! You are driving a sweet teal Chrysler Lebaron convertible...and you love it. You are on the dance team, something you cherish and are thriving in show choir. All of the sports you grew up loving have gone by the way side and you have officially become a girly girl. Your parents get divorced. This doesn't come as a surprise but is so dysfunctional that you change as a person. You wore your heart on your sleeve before and now you bottle everything up inside. I so wish I could go back and tell you NOT to do that. I so wish someone in your life would have realized how badly you just needed a hug. You become your brothers rock and your relationship with him grows in ways you never thought possible. You get accepted to every college you apply to. You don't get into Butler University's singing program. You do get into Butler. You are so excited to LEAVE Dvegas.

Dear 19 year old Mlouise,


You LOVE Butler. You are a sophomore/junior in college already...time sure does fly. You are dating the man you THINK you are going to marry. Turns out you are really wrong about that but learned a whole lot about relationships and yourself. You are in a sorority but most days regret making that decision. Although your greatest friends are a part of it and I am positive that is the only reason you stayed. You smoke a LOT of cigarettes. Its how you deal with most anything stressful (and lets be honest...goes hand in hand with the large amount of cocktails you are consuming). Your mom lives in California and this is cool and devastating all at once. Your dad dates a woman you loathe so going "home" is hard. You throw the biggest millennium New Years party Dvegas has seen. You didn't have fun though. Wish I could have told you to have fun! You are a bit more secure with yourself but in general you still worry way too much. You have great friends. Ones that do give you hugs when they suspect you need one.

Dear 21 year old Mlouise,

You became a fair queen and handed off your crown already. It was fun for sure, but you didn't believe in yourself enough. I know it is because you didn't feel like anyone else did either, but you should have believed in yourself more. You were a great public speaker and totally could have won the state title. I am glad you didn't though. You officially graduate from college and officially find yourself BROKE. Your friends all left the city after graduating. You didn't. You got the worst job ever and hated going every single day. You barely paid your bills. But you are strong woman. You do pay them, you do go to work (most days), and you do look for something better. You are dating the man you will marry and he is and has been the best thing to walk in your life. Ever. You don't worry so much about anything when you are around him. Turns out that landed you a bit chubby for a while but turns out he loved you anyway. You find your dream job. You find yourself a bit more too.

Dear 23 year old Mlouise,

You are engaged, and about to be married to P-Daddy. You are a homeowner. You are freaking rocking out at your job that you LOVE in ways many never thought you would. Your mom has remarried and is living in Tennessee now. You go on your first real cruise and learn how to play blackjack and roulette. These are skills that carry you well throughout the coming years as you will work mostly with men who like to take manager trips to casinos! You marry the man of your dreams on the hottest day of the year in a big ole church with no AC (with many other blips including a HORRIBLE DJ that people still laugh about today) and yet it still goes down as one of the best days in life thus far. You take lots and lots of vacations and go to places you never thought you would. You become Catholic. This is the most confident you have felt, maybe ever, about everything. Life is really good.

Dear 26/27 year old Mlouise,

You are a manager now and are working on a commercial construction design project that you love. You are a homeowner for the second time as you and P-Daddy have already sold and built a new home again! You are pregnant with your first child and you kind of hate it. Pregnancy hasn't been awesome to you as there have been a lot of trials. Two of your best friends are pregnant and as much as you want to love this, it isn't as fun as it sounds. You start to feel the most insecure you have in a LONG time and you aren't real happy about that. You quit your job because you think you are moving to Cincinnati for your husbands job but it doesn't happen. You lose your management role because of this. I want to go back and tell you that its all going to be okay and work out in the end. Because it did. Just not the way you ever thought it would. You plan your first wedding and realize in the mean time this may be something you want to pursue full time. You train for a mini marathon but are too freaked out to run it. You are the most sleep deprived you have ever been in your life and yet are still functioning (sort of). You deliver a healthy baby boy who rocks.

Dear 29 year old Mamalouise,

You kind of can't believe what you just wrote above. Its been a great life so far. Even with all the stuff. Because all of the stuff. You are really happy to be sitting here writing on this beautiful day about how far you have come... how many times the road of life split off and somehow you have always ended up on the right path. Your husband really is one of the best gifts that God sent you. You look at your son in awe most days because you cannot believe that you made him and how much he is like you (loud mouthed, opinionated, stubborn...all of the qualities I heart! :). You worry a lot and I want to tell you to stop. What you worry about is out of your control and you need to have more faith in God, take a few more deep breaths and pray. You have recently just fallen into a dream job and are grateful. You have really started to love yourself again and take care of yourself. You think all the time about what a gift this is. Your mom just moved back and this rocked your world a bit. But in such a good way. You are excited about the big 3-0 and what this next decade in life will bring. You are good at asking for hugs when you need them now. Life isn't exactly what you thought it would be, most days its better.

Scrappy

Amy over at our OHML gave me this blog award, oh I don't know, about a week (or more) ago and I haven't had the chance to respond. Amy is not only a blog friend, but one of my oldest real life friends! So thanks Amy! You rock as I know you know I HEART blog awards and you are most likely just appeasing me. :)

Honest Scrap Award Rules

1. Thank the person who gave you this award.

2. Copy and place the award on your blog.

3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.

4. Share 10 things about yourself.

5. Nominate 10 of your favorite bloggers for this award.

6. Post links to the blogs you nominate.

Ten Things you may or may not know about Mamalouise:

1. I am an excellent multi-tasker. I can literally finish three things at once and sometimes when I hit, save, send, save in a matter of seconds and realize that literally just ADD'd out on three documents but also got them done efficiently I laugh out loud (literally) because I can't believe I just did that. My husband DOES NOT understand this by the way as I can be typing and carrying on a conversation with him about what to get at the grocery, who is picking J up and when my last meeting is for the day and really be INTO both.

2. Speaking of the above ADD, I totally think I have always had a version of this. I even went so far as to go online to adultADD.com a few years back and take the 5 question test. It said I was all good in the hood but I don't really buy it. I have never been medicated for this but honestly think I would have been a better student had I been on something. I am especially bad at this if I have too much multi-tasking/on my mind. I jump all over the place in a conversation with someone and even annoy myself.

3. I have excellent peripheral vision. I feel like this is a gift because I can see so much having this. Its like seeing a panoramic view of the world 24/7...creepy eh? :)

4. I love to dance. I even toss around the idea of taking a dance class of sorts now. I am by no means very good at dancing but I loved being on a dance team/show choir back in the day and knowing moves to an entire song. It was just plain fun. Now I just make up my moves and sadly, JD has picked most of them up, but I could sing and dance all day, every day and be the happiest girl in the world. Makes me wonder why I didn't go live on a cruise ship for a few years after college. Could have been fun...oh but don't worry I tell P-Daddy all the time that when we retire we should do something like that! Would keep us younger! HA! But at that point I would probably be more qualified to be a dealer in the casino than sing and dance-which also would work for me!

5. The men in my life have better wardrobes than me. I would MUCH rather dress them than myself. My husband probably has more shoes than I do even! Its not that I don't like fashion, or looking nice...believe me I do. I just LOVE to purchase them clothes. I feel its easier to dress them than myself. I am working on this factoid about me though...because I don't want them looking all pretty all the time and not be included in the prettiness. HA!

6. I got my belly button pierced when I was 15 years old, took that baby out when I was 21 years old and I STILL HAVE THE HOLE AT 29 years young. Note to all young readers out there...when you get a belly ring because you think it is less invasive to the body than a tattoo...you are wrong. It will permanently scar your body with a hole, gross. I am soo getting plastic surgery though (probably, hopefully) after any and all children are born in this family because in general there has been "damage" to that area done that no one BUT a surgeon could fix. Damnit to 15 year old logic and Damnit to all those doughnuts I ate during pregnancy. :)

7. I have driven some sort of SUV since 2000 (with a small blip in the radar of a Honda Civic for a hot second). So far my favorite has been the Acura MDX, but I would never own one again because I had more problems with that thing than ever (which is why I don't own it anymore). But it was oh so pretty and special. Have I mentioned that I also love to drive and am kind of a control freak about this particular thing in my life? Oh...well then yeah, I am like that so having a car that I love is kind of important. :) If the Chevy Tahoe wasn't such a gas hog, there would be a beautiful black one in my garage right now. Maybe one day...

8. I was an "athlete" growing up. I put "athlete" because my career pretty much peaked in 5th grade with being a "star" at SLOW PITCH softball. But I am glad that I was able to be involved with so many sports. I obviously feel this helped me keep in shape for most of my life as I have never been scared of a gym or athletic opportunity, but I am also glad to know about these sports and be able to play/practice with our children some day soon!

9. I love making photo books (not to be mistaken for scrapbooks), and memory picture videos. So far JD has a memory video for each year of his life, along with a photo book. I don't plan to stop this tradition as it is so much fun! And how fun will it be to combine all of these and put together a super long one to play as a loop at his high school graduation party? Oh yeah, already planning that! :)

10. I had a concentration in Speech Communications in college. I loved learning the art of articulating myself well in public situations. I didn't know until I started attending professional education seminars that the number ONE fear of most adults is public speaking! I have always felt God gave me my voice for a reason and I have ALWAYS had something to say, so why not use that voice? But I totally get it, for those that do have that fear. I still get a little scared before I go before a group but it gives me such a rush to be able to share whatever is on the agenda that day. :)

And believe me when I say, you are ALL winners...so please except this award on behalf of me! :)

SHRED it or DREAD it Friday

Exgf over at Confessions of an ExGirlfriend started this tradition last week and I think it is a wonderful opportunity to dump on the blog world so I can go into my weekend fully shredded.

*****

I need to stop feeling so guilty all the time that I am not this perfect Christian. I know...those who know me are all like-WHAT? But seriously it runs through my head a million times a week probably that I should be better. I tell ya, those Baptists did know how to instill a lot of guilt when it comes to Jesus. Oh...and those Catholics aren't much better either...ha! But in all seriousness, I am SHREDDING the guilt! God knows where my heart is...

Speaking of guilt, I am already feeling that weight on my shoulders for working full time and not being with JD. He has acted out a bit more this week and I am certain that it is because he is testing us as his world has been flipped up-side-down. Children are resilient, Children are resilient, must.keep.repeating. But honestly, when I take a step back I really have been handed the perfect opportunity and I did get to spend some QT with him at random hours this week. I just have to cherish my moments a bit more now! So today, at least for today, I am shredding the guilt I feel when it comes to going back to work.

I have noticed that I am not good with giving myself "time" to "settle" into anything. Looking back through life to date I have either dove in head first or didn't dive in at all. Soooo with that said... I haven't really worked out for a long time (okay I ran once this week...but that isn't a lot at all). Everyone tells me this has to do with the fact that I need "time" to "settle"...but my brain hears all of that as "excuse"...so anyway I am SHREDDING the worry about not working out (at least for this week).

I am so SHREDDING the Outback Steakhouse Bloomin Onion I am about to indulge in...I may as well SHRED the fact that I will probably wash it down with a few Goose Island Honker Ale's too...

Oh and I am not DREADING or SHREDDING this one...but "Clear Eyes, Full Hearts-CAN'T LOSE, aka Friday Night Lights returns to NBC tonight-I.Cannot.Freaking.Wait! I.Am.A.Freaking.Nerd...but I know this and am cool with it!

I totally feel better. Thanks for listening. Oh and I think everyone should do this. Its like blogger therapy. Thanks Exgf...great idea! Oh and if you want to participate with her, just comment on her blog: Confessions of an Exgirlfriend and put a link to your blog!

Happy Weekend everyone!

Doppleganger Week

Two blogs in two days...what? I know, right?! Anyway Its Doppleganger week on Facebook so I participated. I don't normally get all into that stuff that Facebook does but thought this was fun!


I have frequently been told that I look like two pretty famous people...

DJ Tanner (aka Candice Cameron), FULL HOUSE

Scarlett Johansson

I used Scarlett as my Facebook profile pic because I may as well right? She is gorgeous and I will take that compliment from anyone willing to dish it out. I really don't think I resemble either of these women....who cares though...its fun to play pretend.

Myheritage.com is a website you can use that will use a picture of yourself that you upload and output celebrities that look like you. Scarlett nor Candice Cameron showed up on my list (see below) but I will tell you who did...DAVID HASSELHOFF!! Yep, all 70% of his bad self. Nothing like being told you look 70% like a man. Oh and I am pretty sure my number one match is some sort of porn star! Sweet!

MyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Cele

brity - Collage - Morph

Dear Bloggers,

Hello there. I hope this blog finds you well, and happy, and full from a good meal, and even maybe sipping a glass of wine. :) Anyway...yes I have been absent again. I am sure you have missed me. Thanks for that.




I won't bullshit you (yes I am a Christian, but yes I do cuss like a sailor, please deal with it or move on) with a bullshit blog because I really don't have one. Life is good, but my brain is literally in a million places right now and the only thing I would write to you is bullshit that I would end up hating because it was bullshit.




But I do have a few questions about bloggerville that I thought I could pose to you (that means you, the secret stalker of this blog too...whoever you are). So if you know anything on the topics below, please email me or post a comment! You are the best! And I promise I won't be this bad of a blogger in the winter. My brain will settle down with the cold weather, it always does, and then maybe I can catch you up on life...past, present and future. :)






So here are my questions...




1. Feedmil? Has anyone from this site ever contacted you to give them a synopsis of your blog so you will be on their live feed? If so, did you? If you did, was it safe and is it worth it?




2. Blogher? Thoughts?




3. Momversation? I think this is really cool and am not going to lie that the thought of this getting me the opportunity to Skype with Oprah and other moms is kind of fun. But I am not sure how to join in on the fun...any of you do this and/or look at this site?




4. Bloghop? What exactly is this and why would I be interested in it?




5. Oreo's...to dunk or not to dunk (in a cold glass of milk)...that is the ?




Again, thank you in advance for any and all help or feedback or just your personal unedited opinoin. :)





Oh, and here some pictures of what we (or JD) have been up to lately...

Cop Out {18}

I have to be honest with you and say that today I have no idea what to write about. So I tragically I turned to Facebook for inspiration from a few of those lovely quizzes people take freaking daily that I complain about all the time. I am apologizing up front because I realize this is a cop out blog...but I just got nothing else today people. :)

This may be useless information...but it also may entertain you. So you decide whether to read on...I promise never to be offended! :)

THE MOST RANDOM SET OF QUESTIONS IN THE WORLD:

Do you read the labels on shampoo bottles?

Yes, to see if it smells good. I don't buy the expensive stuff though. Unless it is found at Marshalls or TJ Maxx

Have you ever brushed your teeth in the shower?

yes, and I don't find it particularly fun at all. However, it is efficient

How old do you look?

I don't know...younger than 35 because I still get carded at the grocery store when purchasing booze

.

How old do you act?

Older than my age in most cases for sure. Or at least I think so...I feel very grown up most of the time and too grown up some of the time.

Whats the last song you sang?

"Jesus Loves Me" to JD before bed tonight

Whats the last song you heard?

"Free Fallin" by John Mayer and its lovely

Have you recently become a member of anything?

Delta Gamma, Alpha Tau chapter House Corporation

What are your plans for the weekend?

Girls night with my future sister in law tomorrow that I am sooo excited about, pool time, the gym, mowing the lawn, church...pretty much the usual!

What is your mood at the moment?

Good and relaxed!

Have you ever ridden a mechanical bull?

No...but secretly I think this would be fun

If you were working on a pirate ship, what would you most likely be?

The Captain

Have you ever called anyone a slut?

Yes I certainly have...and I meant it to

Have you ever smuggled something into Canada?

No but mostly just because I have never been to Canada.

Does playing guitar make someone more attractive?

Umm, no not at all. But golfing does... :)

Do you live in a city with a good sports team?

Yes-GO COLTS! and GO BULLDOGS!

Have you ever finished off the popcorn?

Yes, all the buttery and salty goodness is at the bottom! Oh and I heart the half popped kernels too!

What's your favorite super hero?

Not sure if this answer will age me, but I don't have a current one (because I am not that kind of girl) but back in the day it was SHERA

!

Do you have more enemies than friends?

I don't think I have any enemies actually. There were probably a few in the sorority from time to time but we all know that was ages ago! :)

Have you ever sent anyone an anonymous letter?

no but I have totally thought about it.

Can you fix your own car?

Absolutely not

Are you smarter than your friends?

I am pretty sure I have blogged about the sense of entitlement most of my college friends had about being way smarter than me (they had no faith those girls...), so I don't mind saying that they were WRONG and I am smarter than a fifth grader. :)

Have you ever stolen anything from your friends?

Deliberately no...but I am quite sure that I have ended up with a random tank top or shirt from the many closets I have shared with friends.

Have you ever been to jail?

No and I plan to keep it that way thank you

Last thing you bought over $50?

Groceries

Have you ever died or killed someone in a dream?

No, but I frequently have dreams where close loved ones die or are dying...I think I am just scared to lose them though.

Have you ever given to a charity?

yes both monetarily and as a volunteer

Do you ever get depressed?

Clinically, no. But I have my days where I am down in the dumps for sure.

Do you live with your parents?

Nope, been off the tit for quite some time now and am proud of it

Do you have plans for your future?

Yes we do

Two names you go by:

mlouise

momma

Two things you are wearing right now:

my wedding rings

the sweet bright orange DEE GEE t-shirt from college-HA!

Two places you want to go on vacation:

Jamaica, and I think we are gonna make that happen very soon!

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic-just cause its amazing and it was our honeymoon and the most perfect vacation I have ever been on.

How many pairs of jeans do you own?

7 I think, but never enough people...never enough

What colors do you wear most often?

Black, khaki, and white...I look like a waitress most of the time. Its a curse...I go to the store to purchase color and I just gravitate to black, black and more black. At least it goes with everything?

Hows the weather?

Beautiful, 60, sunny and breezy!

Favorite pair of shoes?

Black flip flops

Do you own big sunglasses?

Currently I own no sunglasses because JD loves himself some of his mommies sunglasses and ends up breaking them. If I did own sunglasses I think they would be medium as I have a big fat face and big ones don't look so hot on my mug

What are you doing right now?

Thinking about what I am going to have for dinner, watching Jeopardy and writing answers to these random questions.

What should you be doing?

nothing, isn't that wonderful?

What's your favorite sport to play?

Tennis

What's your favorite sport to watch?

College Basketball or College Football

When was the last time you saw your dad?

A few weeks ago...but we talk all the time

What did you have for dinner last night?

Roselli's pizza

Look to your left, what do you see?

JD's toy area all picked up and ready for him to destroy again tomorrow!

What's your favorite Starbucks drink?

Grande, Non fat, French Vanilla Latte...yes I am high maintenance when it comes to my coffee drinking

Do you hate being alone?

Not at all. Sometimes its wonderful to be alone, close your eyes and hear nothing but silence.

Do you think the drinking age should be lowered to 18?

Yes. I think kids drink more because it is a forbidden pleasure. No because I believe there is some serious research out there that 18 year olds brains aren't fully mature and chemically unbalanced because of all the hormones so they won't/can't make sound decisions. In the end, I am glad its not my decision. Although I do think we should be a bit more consistent. Drive at 16, Vote and purchase tobacco at 18, and drink at 21. I say maybe drive at 16 and the rest at 18. And the answer to whether or not they should legalize marijuana is yes. Not because I enjoy, but because others do illegally and the government could make a whole lot of cheese and tax the hell out of this and maybe get us out of the enormous deficit single handedededly (that was a stutter) because of the weed. See...I totally am smarter than a fifth grader.

What's a bad habit you have?

Cussing...a lot of cussing

What is the one thing you would like to happen today?

A good nights rest...and peace in the middle east of course! :)