Oh Goddess! And...I Am Raising An Ungratful Brat

So, let me start this post with this...

Last weekend Goddess and I hit the road and had a blast (more on that later). I loved spending time with her and we went wherever the road took us with no destination at all. It was a blast and she loved every moment.

Today I woke up thinking; while the boys watch football, I am taking her out again. There was a movie she wanted to see called Paranorman and has been dying to have her beloved "Doggy" restuffed for over  year so that seemed like the perfect day with one exception. I hate the mall.  The early movies were at the mall as was Build A Bear where I had heard they restuff even if it isn't a Build A Bear but since I am the anti-mall rat, my desire wasn't to go there but since I am a good mom, it seemed like a logical choice for our time away plus she would be so surprised. 


As she was putting on her "dress up" vampire clothes I walked in and said, "don't put that on, get dressed we are going out". She was excited and told me to remember my camera.

Just before I walked out the door, I told her to grab doggy for the ride like last week. We left the house at 10 A.M and she had no idea where we were going. To be totally truthful, neither did I because I was still uncertain that I wanted to go to the mall.


We headed out and sang along to the radio. She loved the weather and we talked about how beautiful the sky looked as we drove along. It looked like it would be another wonderful day but boy was I wrong.  No, not wrong just let down.

So...when we got to the mall, she was confused, we never come here. Like I said, I am the Anti mall rat, the last time we went was probably 2 years ago for a birthday party at Build A Bear for another kid.

OK, let me stop there...before I get judged for giving her too much I want to add, we never do anything as you can probably tell if you read my blog. We have never taken them on a vacation. Money is always tight so day trips are usually out as is eating out, carnivals (they have been two times), theme parks and anything that requires me to pay money. OK....go....


We walked into the movie theater side and I paid for 2 tickets to Paranorman in 3D. We got our glasses and I explained that we had 20 minutes before the movie and had to run up to Build A Bear. Her face lit up as I checked out the map and noticed it was right above us. Perfect! We got on the escalator which she has only used once (two years ago) so she was super excited.

Build A Bear employees met us with a smile and when I asked if they could stuff "doggy" they said with a bigger smile, "sure, we do that all the time." I was so excited, touched my heart and mouthed thank you to the employee who I found out later is Alisha.

We quickly established that we would come back for Doggy (after talking a reluctant Goddess into it) after  I gave them permission to cut doggy . He is a Webkinz Jr animal (no longer available) and very well made. Literally seamless so he would need to be cut and restitched.  When we left the store, she asked, "can we take the elevator?" Sure, we waited 5 minutes for it to go one floor but anything for my baby!

Since we had our movie tickets we headed to the concession stand where we got water, popcorn and M&M Pretzels because she loves them and I offered, anything for my baby.

We watched Paranorman which was great! I love animation and 3D so literally couldn't stop saying "WOW" and "cool", freak that I am. Thankfully there was only 2 other people there (a father and son) so no one complained.

After the movie, we went upstairs to check on Doggy who was waiting in a bag which was filled out nicely BTW.. I peeked in and called over Goddess to check out her newly restored Doggy. Doggy looked awesome but Goddess right away wanted to remove Doggy's pretty new bows in coordinating Doggy fur color. I told her no and that she would be allowed to buy Doggy one outfit. She settled on a Halloween costume..no surprise there.

We changed Doggy at one of the changing stations into her brand new witch costume complete with shoes, handband witch hat and pumpkin goody bag and headed out after paying $23.00. I was feeling great about My and Goddess' wonderful day but we still had one more stop. The dreaded grocery store. Dreaded for me not for her. I hate shopping. I really do. It probably has something to do with always having to count pennies but for whatever reason it needs to be done.

We had a fairly small list and got it done quickly. As we were walking to the register she asked for Monster High plates that she had seen, they are disposable, square plates and she really doesn't need them but what a great way to end our day together. We put them in the cart.

She asked for a Halloween magazine and after looking at the price tag I told her that she could choose between the plates or the mag. She choose the plates. Damn it, I would have saved $3.00

When we got home she took her requested for sushi (California Rolls are not Sushi in my eyes but that's what she calls them) to her room to watch a movie as Teach and I put the groceries away. After her movie I told her we had to do spelling homework to which she started playing typical Goddess games. She didn't want to. She didn't have to. She doesn't know how. She has a bellyache. Her ass hurts. Yada! Yada! Ok..that last part isn't something she said but really I am tired of the nonsense when it comes to  homework.

After much patience of telling her that she only had to write the words three times as per her teacher, she started. After the third word of her not even trying to sound it out, I started my talk. You know the one that goes something like this.

"Oh come on...sound it out. You can do it. I will help you, just try. After this (20 minutes since we had started and only 3 words written) she shut her light off with me in the room and ran out. OK, now I was pissed. Are you kidding me? I called her back. She didn't come. I demanded that she come right now or I was done! She didn't. Her father finally yelled and she came in. She refused to look at the words and started whining that she can't do it.   Spelling and reading are very hard for her but when she doesn't even try I get so mad. I told her, "You know what? Nevermind, don't do it. I don't care. It is your homework and you can tell your teacher you didn't want to do it.

She whinned, "no mommy, I want to do it."

I went back in and there was more whining so I turned to her and said.  You know what? I am done. I thought we would spend our Sunday's together doing fun things without the boys rushing us or not wanting to do things and this is how you treat me. You give me no respect. You don't come when I call you. You don't answer me when I call you.You ignore the things I say to you as if I am not there. You think I am taking you to those two other movies you mentioned you wanted to see?  Why? Why do you do this? Look at what we did today! Look how much fun you had. I took you to the movies. I got doggy stuffed. I even bought that dog an outfit when I haven't bought myself anything new in over two years and this is how you treat me?

And...then she says....."I didn't ask for you to take me to the movies and you asked me if I wanted an outfit for Doggy!"

*Insert car breaks and my heart breaking here!*

My mouth opened and I yell, "Are you kidding me!?" Now Teach just hears yelling so he comes in and gives her an ultimatum, "Do your homework in the next 12 minutes or you are going to bed! You have until 5. This is not a joke and you won't be laughing when you find yourself in this room with the blinds down, the TV off and under the covers crying because you messed up."

She does her homework exactly by 5. My work is done. My heart is bruised. My head hurts so I tell her to put her stuff back in her backpack.

An hour later we are in the kitchen and Teach says to her, "did you like the movie?" She says yes. He than says, you guys had a nice mother/daughter day. You got to spend time together. That is nice right honey?  So, there is where I tell him that she told me that she didn't ask for the movies or the outfit for Doggy.

He is pissed. He is shocked. He says, "you said that to your mother? get out of my kitchen and go to your room. I can't believe you said that to her. That is not nice. All of those things cost money and you are rude."

I know she is 7 but really!? I was literally heartbroken by her ungratefulness and disregard for my time, our money, and what I thought was a great day.

Handsome always thanks us. If we give him anything, a trip to McDonalds he runs over to hug us. When he opens his gifts and sees something he really wanted he runs over to hug us. Last week we were early for something so I took them for a slice of pizza each and he said thank you there and when we got home he said after hugging me "thank you so much for taking us to the pizzeria mommy." He gets it!  I do not expect a lot out of my kids or anyone but I do expect respect. Respect costs you nothing and means so much to others. It is how I was raised and how I present myself to others. I want my kids to be respectful all the time. I am not looking for angels but I do want them to respect themselves and others.

How would you handle this??? What should I do to teach her? It is not like they are spoiled she never gets anything. Usually I tell them, "you can add this to your wish list.



 

Goddess In Purple

 These are some of my favorite shots of Goddess, OK..they are the ones I chose over the 25 favorite shots of her this week. We had such a good time at the farm and I loved watching her run around in her purple tutu like skirt and brown cowboy boots.

Cowgirls N' Angels REVIEW

The 411 by Maria: 

I am a huge fan of Bailee Madison.  She just breaks my heart in practically everything I have ever seen her in so I was excited to see this sweet movie about a little girl being raised by a single mother. 

In Cowgirls N' Angel's Bailee plays spirited Ida who longs to find her daddy! She hangs around rodeos on the lookout for him and eventually friends a riding troupe called the Sweethearts of the Rodeo run by Terence Parker played by Oscar Nominee James Cromwell. 

Terence's troupe stars his daughter and a bunch of wayward girls who has has taken under his wing and given a second chance in the game of life. Terence talks Bailee's mom into letting her go with the Sweethearts on the road where she learns a lot about herself and finds herself with a "new" family. 

I personally loved this movie and there are great messages and lessons such as being self reliant and never giving up on your dream. There are as many bad ones also. 

Stealing - Ida steals a horse, keys, etc. 

Breaking In - Ida breaks into the horse farm at night to ride a horse. 

Lying - Ida writes a note of approval from her mom to Mr. Parker to enable her to ride and spend time with him. 

There are certainly more than the ones I have listed and none of these things ever go punished. However, even with all that the movie is a great family friendly movie and like most movies starring Bailee, I did my fair share of crying! 

Guess The Hottie!

I constantly post eye candy on my Facebook page. My friends actually contact me when I don't do it for a while (2 weeks) and demand one. Some even call with requests. It is so much fun to search out a hot picture that I like and I feel will appeal to the masses. Plus, I feel like I am providing a public service to my girls and boys who like boy friends. It's a hard job but someone has to do it.

Yesterday I decided to play a new game and wanted to share it with you guys.

So this is called Guess The Hottie and my friends and family are really good at it. What do you think? Want to give it a go?

GUESS AWAY!



I don't claim to own any of the photos included in this post! All rights go to whoever took the photo and since they were in Google I have no idea although I would love to give them credit!

Neverlost - A Movie Review

The 411 by Maria: I am super impressed with writer/director Chad Archibald. This was an ambitious film and I hung on it's every moment. From the music, to the sets, to the script and actors it is just a great movie!!

 Josh (Ryan Barrett) can't sleep and since he can't sleep he is in constant turmoil. His thoughts are out of control along with his life. He talks his doctor into giving him sleeping pills so that he can get some rest and deal with his life. He is certain that all he needs is sleep.

While asleep he wakes to a parallel life or an alternative universe where he is with his wife/finance' (I am not sure which) perished in a fire. whatever you want to call it, it is the life he feels he was destined to live. In order to get back to that life and away from his current wife Meg, and the rat infested, stopped up toilet apartment he must take more pills.

Josh is unbalanced and his psychosis is making him crazy until he is no longer certain which life is real.

The movie is interesting and I appreciate the parallels between the two lives, between the light and dark, good and evil, ying and yang.

About to Watch The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

So excited to sit down this morning to watch The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel from 20th Century Fox starring Judi Dench.

I received this basket full of items to enhance the movie experience. Included in the basket is:

·         Marigold Seeds

·         Branston Pickles

·         PG Tips Tea

·         Marmite

·         McVitie’s Biscuits Value Pack, includes hobnobs

·         Indian Spices

Here is an even better photo of what I received from 20th Century Fox

I'll let you know how it goes. Wish me luck because some of the items look very interesting

Addendum:

OK, I watched the movie and LOVED it.  See my review here.

I also wanted to share some of my pictures of the items in the basket.

I now know that I don't love or even like Marmite! Ugh...

Totally could eat the whole jar of Branston Pickles. I was put off a little when I saw the insides because I expected "pickles". It says pickles but it isn't like pickle that I know.

 

Rewind The Past Cannot Be Erased

The 411 by Maria: Karen's has a nice little new life in a small town with her husband and her daughter. She attends her AA meetings and is trying to forget the life she had before. Unfortunately for Karen she learns that your past cannot be simply locked away in a closet. Sometimes it comes back to haunt you in the form of Karl an old boyfriend with a less than sinister agenda than to get Karen to help him with a scam situation they were both involved in years before. The movie is very dark and I don't mean "scary and deep" I mean I found it hard to see what was going on at times. It was an OK premise and the actors do a good job with a mediocre movie plot. Karen's husband was my favorite character and I found myself wondering if the movie was coming full circle in a way. Umm..things to ponder. 

My Goddess Is So Fun!

Goddess and I took to the road today and headed out. Mostly it was to get out of the house for Football Sunday and because it was a glorious day. We ended up at a farm where we took these shots. This is my favorite of the day. She hates it and wanted me to delete it. I usually do what she asks when it comes to photos of her but this was a keeper to me. She thinks it is embarrassing that you can see her tongue. Looks like a mag page for kid clothes to me. 

This was her very first ride. It was just a pony but she believes it was a horse no matter how many times I said pony. She was in her glory. It was a quick ride, only two times around but I was so proud that she just jumped on up and did it. More photos of today coming.

It's My Shadow Mommy

Today my daughter and I headed out for some quality mommy time. Well, it was actually, protect Goddess from yelling Daddy because she can't stop blocking the TV on Football Sunday. She can't control her voice volume...and I really needed a day outside!

We had the best time and she loved running all over the many places we ended up today. We went wherever the road took us and had a blast.

My Show Off Photos For The Week

The kids were looking at Halloween decorations while I zoomed in on this flower!  

This barn grabs my eye every time I pass it. Love all that texture so I added a texture over it.  

A shot from a memorial in town for a beloved teacher who passed away. Love all those colorful balloons in the sky.

 

Last Train To Clarksville

Or in my case...Sugar Loaf. I was in Sugar Loaf, New York last week and took the camera. While stopping in a deli to get a quick HOT tea for my sore throat, this train came into view, I ducked into the car and grabbed the camera as I came toward and passed me.

Weekend Reflections

It's me....see my ridiculously long hair...time for a cut.

 

I Hope You Dance

There is just something about little girls dancing together. They are so serious one second and the next laughing and covering their mouths. It is simply an adorable sight.

Oh What Beautiful Weather

I pass this scene every day and every day the urge to get out of my car to enjoy the vast beauty takes over. Mostly, I keep going because I am usually driving with only moments to spare these days but today I got out.
You are looking down at Warwick, New York. Isn't it lovely?

Waverly and The Magic Seashells - Review

Two weeks ago we received a really sweet product from The Bridge Direct and are happy to report that we are in love with Waverly and all the magic surrounding the seashell.

Goddess was able to put the whole thing together without any help from me which as a parent makes things so much easier. I know that at Christmas time, my kids are both vying for my husband and I to help them with something which means we spend the whole morning put things together for the kids and not really enjoying their fun so I love it when they can do it on their own.

We have reviewed Shoulder Buddies and Inkoos from The Bridge Direct and have loved each product. Waverly and the Magic Seashell is on a whole new level. The play set is very interactive.

The cute mermaids are very girly and the play set will make any girl happy. We (Goddess and I) love the pink shell. She keeps it on her bookshelf near her beach shells and loves that she can make it light up by putting a magic pearl down the slide to make the lights and sounds for the shell. When the shell is closed it looks pretty cool. The set comes with one Waverly mermaid and a ring to hold your magic pearl but you can buy additional accessories including six different mermaids of Azerella. 

The Coolest Way To Play Football

Teach and the kids have been spending quite a bit of time together over the past few months. My temp job that takes me out on the weekends, my community website, community services, social media work, Maria's Space, my surgery have all contributed to a lot of time spent out of the house. I must admit the man has really stepped up and been a great father, making sure that the kids get what they need when I am not home. What they mostly need is him. Anyone can be a father but it takes a real man to be a dad! I am happy to report the kids have had a great time spending being with their dad. They spend quality time outside playing soccer and football and sometimes inside. I know, like the Brady Bunch's mom Carol used to say, "don't play bowl in the house!" Well, that was a long time ago. Thanks to Nerf ball playing is now accepted in the house. While I don't love it, I am not nervous and they do keep things on the down low if you get my drift.

The Nerf Sports Firevision Football is HOT! You wear these cool glasses that are simply cool in their own right but when you use them with the football, the football takes on the color of the glasses. The glasses come in red and green with the same color lights and when you toss the football, your color reflects off the ball using some sort of Microprism Technology. Whatever it is, the glowing streaks are hot!

The Teach is usually unimpressed while I am usually very impressed by a lot of the products that cross my doorway. The Nerf Sports Firevision Football according to Teach is very COOL!  Now, that really says something.

The Red Train Has Been In Our Lives For Years

But it used to be blue

Catching Up On Some Photo Posts

My Deck was a lovely place to sit this summer. There were plants from my kids, flowers from one of my Daisies for Mother's Day and soft candle lighting for the evening. I loved sitting out there before the mosquitoes made it unbearable. The deck weather is coming back for me. Will be spending quite a lot of time on the deck after my temp job is over. Miss being home!

This interesting bloom falls from a very big tree in my backyard. I have no idea what it is but Goddess gives one to me every once in a while and we put it in a tiny vase. Any ideas?

 

This last photo are our solar flowers. Not sure how I ended up with a collection but I am in love with them. Handsome got one for Skye for Christmas, Goddess got one for me for Christmas and a friend spotted one and knew I love them so she handed it to me in a parking lot in town one day. I have the bestest friends.

You've Got A Friend - A Family Friendly Movie Review

The 411 by Maria:

You've got everything you would expect from a Faith & Family Movie an angry, misunderstood loner, a kid who has lost his parents, a brooding uncle who has taken his nephew in after his estranged brother passes away and a bully whose dad demands him to be first! You can see the set up for a whole lot of healing and more coming a mile away.

You've Got A Friend starring one of my childhood crushes John Schneider so I was already excited before it even started.

John Schneider plays Jim, a Viet Name Vet who was a Derby Car champion. Dylan McLaughlin, an adorable, sweet looking boy plays Bobby Graham, a smart, kid who is looking for someone to help him with a Derby car, something he and his dad were working on before his father's death.  He tries to get his Uncle Jeff to help but Jeff is busying running his hardware store and has some underlying anger toward Derby.

I will never understand movies where a child loses their family and has to deal with such negativity. Thankfully, Bobby's teacher and Jim care deeply for Bobby and want to make sure he is happy and doesn't feel alone! Thankfully, it doesn't take long before his Uncle comes around and everyone is happy.

Does Bobby win the Derby? You will have to see the movie and find out. 

The story is a wonderful, feel good movie about taking chances, forgiveness, friendship, family, achieving your dreams and not judging others.

A+ and a great family movie!

When It Happens to You by Molly Ringwald - Sign Copy Giveaway

Who didn't grow up in the 80s watching Molly Ringwald in every movie you loved!? I am a huge fan of Molly and cannot wait to read this book.

The 411 by Maria:
Yes, it is that Molly Ringwald and she is a pretty good writer. The storyline is good and the characters are "real". I wanted to read because it was Molly and I was curious about what she would write. Thought perhaps it would be a light, airy story about 1 dimensional people with 1 dimensional lives but it was so much more than that!

I sincerely enjoyed how the short stories intertwined with each other. Molly started out wanting to write very separate short stories but the characters suddenly connected and isn't that so like life. We are all 6 degrees of separation and connected in big or small ways.

The first story is about Greta and Philip and their daughter Charlotte. They are facing a separation and change of location as many families do these days. We also meet single mother Miranda who is raising a little boy Oliver who insists he is a girl and wants to be called Olivia. Peter Layton is an actor who is fired from a children's show who finds himself drawn to Greta and lastly we have my favorite character the one I could completely identify with and broke my heart, Betty a lonely widow who interacts with Charlotte. Each story is heartfelt and structured beautifully. You will LOVE this book.

The Dairy Farm

Here is one of the farms I pass on my ride to work. I love those dark blue silos and would you look at that sky!! Not a single cloud and so perfect for Blue Monday.