Party Favor Chocolates

Today I'm linking up with Kyla at Funky Polkadot Giraffe for Too Cute Tuesday.



I made these for a staff appreciation event at my daughter's preschool, a Twilight party, and most of my kids' birthday parties.  They are so easy and fun.  Here is a step by step tutorial:

Read "Easy, Cute, and Cheap Party Favor Idea" by Marian at Britely!

Have You Got a Better Idea?

I'm over at the TGIF Blog Hop hosted by You Know It Happens At Your House Too, Funny Postpartum Lady, and Overworked Supermom.  Come join the fun!

I'm also linked up with Anna at My Life and Kids and Kelly at Kelly's Breakroom for finding the funny.  You should stop by and enjoy the laughs.

Some of you may be familiar with my badass exercise routine.  However, with classes and student teaching it has been tough to find time to workout.  This is how I currently manage my dilemma:

Read "Making the Most of my Exercise Time" by Marian at Britely!

Hollow Tree Ventures Answers the Call

     As the old time rotary style telephone dial spins, it's time for another installment of "Swimming Telephone."  Participants will take part of our story and run with it, old school telephone game style.  Click on the telephone above for further details and then dive right into the story.

Suspense and intrigue are delivered this week by:

Robyn at

Hollow Tree Ventures

     Robyn made a summer bucket list and checked it twice and then added "Swimming Telephone" to the list because I begged her.  She's hilarious and creative and I'm looking forward to seeing where she takes our inked child and his opinionated grandma this week.  Click to read her latest addition.

Previous swimmer: Kristina at There's No Time For Pants!

Next swimmer: JD at Honest Mom

An old fashioned drama is good for the soul. 

Click on the banner below to keep us going like your favorite day time soap opera.

I will not be one of those crazy Twilight moms all the time!

     Once upon a time I dabbled with graphic designs.  This is code for I see an idea and can usually make it happen at home with my ink jet printer.  It's something I do for fun and if someone would pay me for it I would be a very happy.  Come to think of it, if that happened I'm pretty sure I'd get tired of it and not love it so much so it's probably better I don't get paid for it.

     That being said, I am a finalist for $1,000 from Britely for this book about my Twilight obsession that I made.  Before you walk away because you heard the word "Twilight" please know that I am a very quiet Twilight fan and promise not to bombard you with anything Rob, Kristen, or Taylor except for this one little book.  If you read my book and share it with others I could win $1,000 and that would totally rock (for me).  And if I win and if you were here, I would totally take you out and buy you a Margarita as a great big "Thanks!" for helping me out.  So please help a Twilight loving mom out if you don't mind.

Read "Maybe you've heard of this new movie?" by Marian at Britely!


Many Thanks and Margaritas for all!

Soak Zone and pool rules

     We spent a couple days on vacation last week and by vacation I mean we went to exotic Sea World.  (Apropos,don't you think?)  Here are some things I learned while in San Diego.

1)  People will sit in the seats clearly marked "soak zone", listen to 3 announcements about how wet they will get in the "soak zone", get soaked, and then run for higher ground completely shocked they got wet.

2)  None of my family will sit in the "soak zone" with me. This is probably for the best because no one should have to learn Victoria's Secret from me.

Khaki is apparently no better than white pants when wet.

3)  Most Sea Stars have 5 arms, but if you have a mildly obsessive compulsive boy who wants to spend hours at the tide pool, you're bound to find an exception.

4) Some pools have strange rules.

If you're sick, dive right in, the water is great!

What was even weirder about this rule?  The area did not even have a "Pool Shower."

5)  After spending our money and time at Sea World we learned that our kids' favorite thing is the beach, for free.

I'm linked up with the TGIF Blog Hop hosted by You Know It Happens At Your House Too, Funny Postpartum Lady, and Overworked Supermom.  Come join the fun!

If you learned anything this summer (not necessarily from me), please click below.

There's No Time For Pants! is Swimming With the Telephone

     In the manner of those old time ominous sounding male announcer voice types I'm here to tell you "It's time for another episode of Swimming Telephone."  Participants will take part of our story and run with it, old school telephone game style.  Click on the telephone above for further details and then dive right into the story.

The drama and intrigue is continued this week by:

Kristina at

There's No Time For Pants!

     Kristina taught all her kids to swim last week the way God intended; in a hotel swimming pool.  She's fun and spunky and I'm looking forward to seeing where she takes our escaped child and his Mater big wheels this week.  Click to read her latest addition.

Previous swimmer: Nicole Ninja Mom

Next swimmer: Robyn at Hollow Tree Ventures

An old fashioned drama is good for the soul. 

Click on the banner below to keep us going like your favorite day time soap opera.

Blog Star: Hi I'm Marian!

Today I'm linking up with the lovely Mrs. Monologues for a great monthly post called Blog Star.

Welcome to my blog!  If you've ever seen "Finding Nemo", then you probably get it  Just keep swimming is my mantra. I live one day (more like one hour) at a time just keeping myself and my family afloat. I am a mom to three crazy kids ages 8, 6, and 4.  Here I write about my adventures as a mom, student, and wife.

More about me:

I am horrible at returning video rentals on time.

I make an abysmal tooth fairy.

I can't do Pinterest right.
My kids are sometimes nice to each other!
And I think Disney has a few great lessons for boys.
I hope you'll stick around and say hello!  You can also find me swimming on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.

I think you're a star too.  Please click below for me.

Saving My Birthday Crazy

     As someone with a Christmas birthday, in spite of my parents best efforts I was sometimes disappointed.  This was because getting friends to come to a party between Christmas and New Years is like Mission Impossible.  For that reason, I go completely overboard on my kids' birthday parties to make sure they always feel like their day was special.

     I know I've talked a lot about school, but trust me, that was better than the alternative.  Hearing about my school saved you all from the crazy that is me in July.  Blondie and Dude have birthdays 20 days apart and I get complete birthday fever.  

      So instead of subjecting you all to that insanity, I chose to share it with Amanda at Life, Experience Necessary.  Amanda is off on a vacation with her family and I was flattered when she invited me to do a guest post for her.  Please stop by and check out how I'm learning to keep the crazy in check.

Before you head over to Amanda's place, can you spare a click for a crazy lady?