Mad About Mad Men

I am a HUGE fan of the show "Mad Men" on AMC.  Or maybe it's that I'm a huge fan of the lead character Don Draper and how cool it would be to live in that era.  If you haven't heard of the show or seen it, you need to!  It's a show based in the 60's about an advertising company, their clients and the ones they try to get.  All the men wear suits and hats to work, the women are housewives and wear aprons in the kitchen, and the TV's are black and white.  It's a simpler time, a time that we think back on now as to how did we ever make it back then?!  How did we make it with TV without a remote or having no computers but have to use a typewriter?  That's ludacris, us not having a smartphone to get through your day and use a phone with a cord on the end of it instead. Geez....we are to reliant on technology. I'm just as guilty. Hell I'm writing this blog from my spartphone-- in bed!!

Granted they all smoke like freight trains and drink like fish, just the lifestyle they had kind of amazes me. I dont think I'd survive one day in the 60's if I got thrown back in time tonight.  I just think of all the challanges I'd be up against knowing what I could do to make that one task less challenging by using something from the future. But then I also think how much thought or effort I wouldn't be putting into those certian tasks because technology CAN do it for me.  It's a vicious cycle technology and the future.  If I were in Mad Men times id like to think id be a mixture of Joan and Peggy....brains and beauty. Dont we all want that?  In a perfect 60's themed world...... oh the possibilities.

Enjoy some eye candy ladies.....

Palgio-what??

Plagiocephaly--"is a condition characterized by an asymmetrical distortion (flattening of one side) of the skull this condition is also referred to as cheese cutter syndrome"

Thanks Wikipedia.....cheese cutter syndrome, really?  Geez....guess instead of saying my son has plagiocephaly or a flat spot, I'll just say his head looks like a cheese grater.  Yeah, that won't confuse anyone! 

Holden was diagnosised with plagiocephaly in early March 2013.  I had noticed it when he was around 2 months and the doctor said all babies get flat spots, it'll round out over time.  Well his 4 month vist came around and it hadn't gotten any worse, but it hadn't gotten any better.  I was concerned, and the pediatrician didn't even mention it on this visit.  So after seveal instances with this particular doctors office staff, (not the dr he is/was great, the staff SUCKED!) and doing my own research on plagiocephaly, I decided it was best if I changed pediatricians.  This new office (which I love!) sent a referal for us to Star Cranial Excellence Group.  When we went to the appt, they did the scan of his head both with the machine and manually with the appropriate instruments.  Baseline for babies head is 6mm, Holden's was 16mm, which is more than double. 

So then we were told he was gonig to need to wear a helmet.  I knew it deep down in my gut, even before the appointment.  Just my mommy institnct kicking in I guess.  So we just got the green light today from the insurance (which took me calling to see what hold up was) that we are approved!  Since our deductible hasn't been met this yr, our portion is $1060. If we wouldn't have gotten approval we would have had to pay $2300.  So that's a $1240 difference, but it's still  exspensive none the less.

So we are going back to Star Cranial tomorrow at 8am to get another scan done to get sent off to get Holden's helmet made. Im a little scared of this whole situation, but I've been praying on it and lifting up my worries to the Lord because I know he knows what is best for my lil' nugget. Stay tuned for updates and progress!

Check out Holden's scan, you can see the two flar spots he has.

"Craigslist Joe"

So I was flipping through Netflix tonight as I sat down with my pizza and sweet tea in hand.  I am in the middle of Season 8 of Weeds, but my hubby isn't a huge fan of the show, so I tried to find something interesting to watch.  "Craigslist Joe" was under new releases.  It's pretty much about a guy who lives in L.A. and lives off Craigslist for a month, going off complete strangers generosity and kindness.  He met some cool and crazy people.  He went all the way to NY on just the sheer kindness of someone who wanted help driving across the states.  After watching this movie, I got on Craigslist and started to search and see what was on there today, nothing jumped out at me in case you were wondering. ;)  I'm not a stranger of Craigslist by any means, I've bought several things off there, and sold some stuff too over the years.One guy Joe met was a Craigslist addict as he called himself and everyday he searched  several different parts of Craigslist...like transport, ect, crew, domestic.  I didn't even know those things existed on Craigslist.  I only go to free, baby+kid stuff, and household.  So needless to say this movie got me inspired to be a little bit more giving, a little bit more nice to the next average joe I see.  Not saying I'm gonna respond to an ad and give some random dude a ride downtown at 10pm, but I'm open to be a little more open minded when it comes to helping out strangers.  I think we are always a little bit too on guard, you never know your next act of kindness could change that persons world, you just never know!

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Now that I’m a Momma, I notice a lot more kid-related things; one thing in particular is Dr. Seuss books.  I remember as a kid reading his books in the library at school when we lived in Nebraska, which now seems oh so long ago.  I remember loving the thrill of checking out 5 (that was the max!) books and reading them just to be able to turn around and return them to read more.  I was proud that my library card was filled back and front with stamps from when I checked out books.  Now I find myself buying books for Holden for when he’s a little bit older so we can read together.  Dr. Seuss books are an automatic go to.  How can you not love Green Eggs and Ham, Fox in Sox, or One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, and the ever popular, The Cat in The Hat.  So in honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday (03/02/1904), here are some of my most favorite quotes of his.  J  I hope you and your little ones if you got ‘em enjoy them too! 

DietBet--Challenge Accepted!

So my good friend Jennifer brought this DietBet challenge to my attention today.  We had been talking about weight loss over the weekend, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity.  Here we are 14 days into the New Year, and it only took me 2 weeks to get on a diet kick!  ;)  Not how I envisioned my year starting, and I had no diet new year resolutions....but whatevs! 

So what is DietBet you ask, well as in the title, there is a bet involved.  It’s a virtual online weigh-in game where you have 28 days to lose 4% of your body weight.  You pay $25 to put in the pot, and depending on how many members are in your game/group the bigger the pot will get.  In our group there are 32 players, so our pot is at $800!  If you win the challenge, you get the money fair and square.  But if you and three other people win, you have to split it.  Either way, it’s cheap and it’s a fun way to get you motivated to lose weight.   You had to submit a full body shot image and then yourself standing on the scale with the “word of the day” image.  This is so no one can cheat!  

According to my account it shows me that I need to lose 10.3lbs in 28 days.  That seems doable to me, it’s not a big number, so it’s not scary!  That’s what I like about this challenge, 1. I’m doing it with a friend so it makes me accountable, and 2. 10lbs isn’t a big scary number.  I think the more mini challenges of weight loss I have, I’ll be more successful!  So, here’s to me winning $800!  I think if I win I’m putting all that money in Holden’s college fund! All the more reason to kick booty!  I just hope there aren't a bunch of skinny mini's doing this and they win too!  lol  ;)

Brightest Blessings,
Valerie

I Don't Wanna!

The bewitching hour has struck.  The time has come.  The inevitable is here.  I have to go back to work.  I didn’t think going back to work would be so hard, boy was I wrong.  Being off work for 12 weeks on maternity leave and only being away from my son for about 2hrs at the most, they expect me to want to go back to work—no way José!  But, at least I’m only working part-time—every Saturday and Sunday 7a-7p.  I’m a Unit Clerk, which is a fancy word for Secretary, at a local hospital.  I had my first day back last Saturday—I cried on the way to work, while I was pumping, when I went to the bathroom, and on the way home.  I succeeded in not having anyone see me cry!!  Bonus!  My hubs Kenny will be watching Holden all weekend, so at least that gives me some relief knowing he’s not in daycare, and that he is having Daddy-son bonding time.  That warms my heart.   I just have to adjust to this working mom role.  I’m sure it will get easier, but these first few weekend will be brutal.  Kenny was so sweet, he sent me photo updates and texts to let me know how Holden was doing.   Of course the pictures made me teary eyed and miss him more, but it was nice to see his face.  I just wonder how the moms do it who works an everyday job M-F/9-5 gig does it.  I bet it’s just as hard, but I’m lucky to only have to work two days a week.  Well, I better sign off, I have to be up for my middle of the night pump, and then up at 5am for work.  Yippy!  NOT…..till next time….

Brightest Blessings,
Valerie

I'm Baaaaack!

Well it’s been a hot minute since I’ve written on this blog I left on in June of LAST YEAR!  So in the light of the New Year, I’m gonna get the blog motor up and running again.  I have missed blogging and I am excited to get back at it again, really excited!   I’ve been brewing up some ideas on what I want to blog about, doing some blog research, and checking what’s hip nowadays.  Ok, now that sounded totally corny when I typed it, but it sounded really clever in my head when I was thinking it. Whomp whomp!  I guess I better get to cracking on my mad writing skills before I get too far into this blog thing ya’ think?

With my new found blog enthusiasm, I can tell you my perspective on things are a teeny tiny bit different this time around.  Why you ask, oh just a lil’ something happened to me, a lil’ someone came into my life, a lil’ someone I like to call my son, Holden!  Holy hell, I’m a momma now!!!  AHHHHH!  Can you believe it!?  I am so elated I want to scream from the mountain tops.  You know people always tell you, (for all of you who aren’t moms yet) you’ll never know till you’re a mom, well damn if they weren’t right.  You really don’t know until you are a mom.  It changes everything, and I mean for the better.  Now, you’re talking to the girl who was all about me, me, me,---now I’m not talking materialistic me, but me as in I like to sleep in till noon on a random Tuesday, just because I can.  I’m talking about me, the girl who was all about my furbabies Bella & Chloe and what bandana they were gonna wear when we went on our next walk.   So yeah, you might say my blog topics might be a bit different that I would have ever imagined they would be.  That just means I get to reach a new group of people I wouldn’t have ever reached before, and that my friend is awesome. 

This year, I’m not going to make any new year’s resolutions, but proclamations!  I hope you are sticking to the resolutions you made!  I know we all do this every year, so let me share my proclamations with you!  They are as follows:

-Do my best to lose the rest of the baby weight (only a few more pounds to go!  Woo hoo)

-Have better time management---I’m not used to having to pack up for two when I leave to go on a
“quick” errand.  Those no longer exist by the way. 

-Make some new mommy friends---this is a feat I have not yet delved into yet—where do I find these “mommy friends”?  Lol

-Make an effort to get REALLY involved in my ladies bible study this year, not just be another person sitting and listening.

 Brightest Blessings
Valerie