My trip to DPS to renew my license

My oldest niece is going to the DPS today to take her permit test.  I am going to the DPS to renew my license.  We are both girls (ahem, I still consider myself a girl) which means...

pictures

Which means...

makeup

and hair

and jewelry

and deciding what shirt you want to wear for the next 12 years.  (In your driver's license photo anyway)

When I was 15 & 16, getting my permit and then my license, this was great fun!  I spent the whole morning (of every day the week prior) thinking and planning.

Today, I am 38.  As I got out of the bathtub and started blowdrying my hair, it dawned on me...

Next time I have to do this will be when I turn fifty.

Wow.  My mom is 50 (not really, but in my mind she is)

Today, my oldest is 14.  When I renew next time my youngest will be 14.

Today my youngest is 2.  When I renew next time, my oldest will be 26.

Today I have 5 children.  When I renew next time I might be a grandmother.

As I think back to the last time I renewed my license, I realize what an entirely different person I am today.  

Last time, I was 26.

I was pregnant with my 2nd child.

Not only CT mourns

"While you are remembering the children of CT, remember too the families of the nearly 10,000 children who died this year from other causes, and the 10,000 that died last year, and the year before that. If you look around you, you will find families who are grieving the loss of a child, and while it might not be as concentrated and violent as the CT tragedy, it is just as real and painful to them." 

This was my Facebook post today, on the day that our nation has taken time out to memorialize the children and adults lost in the Sandy Hook Elementary / Newton, CT mass shooting last week.  Almost instantly, friends "liked" and commented, and shared.  You see, I am one of those bereaved parents.

6 years ago, we faced the unimaginable things that the families in Connecticut have faced this week.  Choosing a casket for your child (they are so tiny; it breaks your heart a thousand times again).  Choosing what to wear to your child's funeral ("I don't want to wear black, it's not appropriate for children, but I don't want people to think that I'm not grieving either").  Going home empty handed (How can I go back home without my child, but how can I be anywhere that they weren't?) Finding the lost shoe, the "baby's first Christmas" items that are no longer needed, the first "family photo" with an incomplete family.

2007 - our first "family photo" without Ian.  Preparing for it was  very traumatic.  We  probably wouldn't have gone if it weren't for the fact that it was for our church directory.

2012 - The Year's Best

2012 - The Year's Best by noel-giger featuring a rose lace dress

Style That Sweater with Old Navy

Style That Sweater with Old Navy by noel-giger featuring old navy

Face the fear

Today a fellow bereaved mom, still fresh in her grief posted about holding a baby for the first time since her son passed away.  She shared her fears and why she didn't want to hold another baby.  She finished by saying: 

"just know that when you are faced with holding a baby again the sweet innocence they share with you in your moment does help heal a small part of you"

My first time to hold a baby after Ian's death was also healing.  It was only about 2 weeks after Ian passed away.  The niece of a close friend was born the day before Ian - she came to visit while I was there at my friend's house.  My friend asked if I could hold her while they brought some things in from the car.

She was fussy and as soon as I took her into my arms, she quieted down.  I held her close to me and closed my eyes - but only for a moment... it was too easy to pretend that she was Ian.  The mom came in and wondered aloud how I got her to calm down and my friend said "she's a mom with experience!" and then it dawned on everyone how hard it must be for me - I saw it in their eyes.  I looked down at the baby girl and gave her her bottle, then handed her back to mom.  

It was a terrible and blessed experience.  Cathartic, I believe is what they call it.  

It is only through facing our fears and the toughest moments of life, then living to tell about it, that we grow into ourselves.

Sleep Cycles - find yours

I recently found an interesting website!  http://sleepyti.me/

You can put in the time you need to wake up and it will tell you the ideal time to go to bed.  I tried it with a 6:45 AM wake-up time:

You can also find your ideal wake time, based on when you go to sleep (does anyone else think this is great for kids?!?!?)

I put in 8:30 PM:

This goes a long way to explaining why my 4 year old gets in bed with us between 2-3 almost every night!

Check it out - it's completely free!   http://sleepyti.me/  I hope you enjoy :)

Today is the last day....

Today is the last day to order from my Jamberry website with guaranteed arrival by Christmas! 

Jamberry Nails special offers:

Buy 3 nail shields, get 1 free. 

10% off entire purchase coupon code: likejamberry

Gift Certificates available (physical and electronic)

These deals can be combined to make a great bargain!

 Remember - Jamberry is the gift that won't add to their waistline, clutter their closet or collect dust!
 

And, it's also the first day of a great promotion from Solavei:

Source: solavei.com via Noel on Pinterest

Ready to end it all?

2012 that is - what did you think I was talking about?  

The Happy Trunk - This is adorable!

My kids would love this - I bet the kids on your shopping list would too!  It's just $14 each month, and FREE SHIPPING.

"Butterflies" Happy Trunk

"Sun and Sand" Happy Trunk

Each project box contains 2-3 craft projects with all materials included. Besides this, the Happy Trunk boxes include at least one science project kit along with the craft projects, appropriate for the 3-11 age group.

Kids hands on projects delivered right to your door. Holiday sale, first box for just $14.

Shopping for men makes me insane!

I can shop all day long for my daughter.  I find 20 things a day that my mother would LOVE.  I have a stockpile of "just in case" gifts for my besties... But ask me to shop for a man?  UGH...

My husband is the one that is the most trouble.  He has great taste and loves to shop (I know, right now you're thinking "lucky girl!")  The problem is, he just buys what he wants!  And if he doesn't buy it, it's because it's REALLY expensive!

I got tired of sorting through the "Men's gifts" sections (I mean really, how many pairs of slippers can one man use?) so I decided to start a Pinterest board for really cool men's gifts.  If you want to contribute, please let me know and I'll add you (we can use all the help we can get!  Am I right?)

Here's a great one that my teens helped me find:

Source: shrsl.com via Noel on Pinterest

Tinyprints.com 25% off sale!

Enter code: Dec25

Also - Free shipping off orders over $49: HOLFS

And, reduced express shipping so you can get it by Friday, December 14th!

Dear Pinterest...

Source: shewalks.blogspot.com via Gayle on Pinterest

Dear Pinterest,

I love you, but I'm never going to make your wine bottle candle covers.  I'll never replicate "the. best. ever." recipe, because I don't like to cook.  I might actually sew those pillows and make the scarf, but don't hold your breath until I try "OMG so. very. easy" home-made cleaning products.

Why do I need to make glasses out of wine bottles and lights out of glasses?  And I like to theory of making pants for my kids out of the sleeves of my shirts, but I only have little boys!  I'm doing good to actually remember to pack a lunch for the kids, much less make it a cute little monkey face sandwich with a tattooed banana!

I will try really hard to fix up my mantle for Christmas, and if I can ever find the top of my bathroom counters, I'll decorate them for Christmas too.  And when Easter rolls around, and I've failed to decorate for Valentine's Day or St. Patrick's Day, I'll finally put away the Christmas stuff (maybe).

Also - I should probably mention that I'm not really going to do anything with those pallets in my backyard.  I would, but the tree that grew up through them is really big now, and I haven't been able to find just the right pin to address this problem.  That's OK, because my collection of picture frames waiting to be "unified in spray paint/crackle finish/DIY aged fantasticness" is already annoying my husband.  Besides, I couldn't really decide if I'm all "shabby chic" or "subway art" or just "mysterious empty frames on a wall".

I think after the first of the year, I'm going to try to start exercising, that is if I can avoid the temptation to buy your insanely high high-heels.  I know I would break something and I don't recall a pin for #DIY casts.  I know nothing tastes as good as skinny feels, but did you have to put it right next to chocolate cake?  I think that you have some issues...

In the spring, I probably will start pinning an obscene amount of gardening pins.  I won't get my hands dirty or sweat outside, but at least my friends will think that I'm healthy!  Plus, when I get ready to microwave press flowers, they'll assume that they sprung from my green thumb!  I'm pretty sure that I'll buy all the materials to make these into cards, art and children's scrapbooks, but who am I kidding?  It's not really going to happen.

And finally, can we talk about the ridiculous nail pins?  I mean, seriously... who wants fuzzy nails?  Or horticulture on their fingertips?  I know I'm a little bit southern, but around here, we call that "fungus" and take care of it!  Besides - are any of your nail peeps over the age of 22?  I don't know anyone that has time to sit around for 5 hours and paint their nails!

Sincerely,
Addicted to Pinterest

P.S.  Thank you for the lovely words of affirmation
P.P.S.  I un-follow all those stupid cute animal boards

A little family update

I can't believe that it is December!  The pic above was taken at Thanksgiving (I just LOVE the beautiful weather we've been having in Texas!  80 degrees today!) and you can see how big the family is getting!

Calvin will be 14 this year.  He's enjoying skateboarding and Minecraft.  Jordan is 11 and enjoys music and modeling.  Aaron is nearly 2 and started walking today!  Gavin is 4 and enjoying preschool.

William enjoys wearing sunglasses :)  I'm enjoying my new retro / rockabilly look (I'm easing into it here!)

I've been quite busy with my Jamberry business (my team is now over 100!) and Solavei is saving us money on cell phones and starting to generate a nice little side income too.  William and I have both been struggling with health issues, but we're still kicking!

#Win Your #JamberryNails Wishlist: #Pinterest #Contest

Source: jamberrynails.net via Noel on Pinterest

Contest Dates: November 12, 2012 through December 14, 2012

Prizes:

Grand Prize – Your Wish List! (15 Jamberry Nail shields) -$225 Value 

1st Runner Up – Jamberry Nails’ top 5 selling nail shields - $75 Value2nd Runner Up

Jamberry Nails’ top 3 selling nail shields - $45 Value

Get the Jamberry Nails Coupon Code!

UPDATE:  Bummer!  This Coupon Code is expired!  Jamberry doesn't do coupon codes like this very often (maybe once a year!) The VERY BEST way to get a discount on your Jamberry favorites?  Host a party!  You can do a fun in-home party:

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Girls Night Out (or in!)

You can do a party on the patio of your favorite restaurant:

Margaritas and Manicures

Mimosas and Manicures

Pinot Grigio and Pedicures

You can do an online or Facebook Party, or even a catalog party!

Contact me today to get yours started!

Like Jamberry Nails on Facebook, then use this fans-only coupon for 10% off your purchase at my website!  Pass it on!