Review and Giveaway

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Ainsley's Closet

New items at Ainsley's Closet on Facebook.

Pink and black bug barrette

Bumble Bee barrette

Busy, busy, busy

I have been busy lately.

Making jewelry
Making hairbows

Making tu tus

And making Tink model them for me.

Wonder how this is going to go?

I am a maker of things. I always have been.


Most recently I have been making:

Bracelets for myself, Tink and everyone else I know.

Hair bows for Tink and other little lovely girls in my life.

Blankets for the new babies in my life. (I promised Tink one long ago, better get to work on that!)

Dresses and skirts mostly just for Tink, although I do have the fabric to make myself one.

Tu tus for Tink, who recently has decided she no longer likes tu tus. (This is breaking my heart!!)


This past week I had a woman at soccer fall in love with the hair bows I made for Tink's soccer team. She asked if she could buy one for her younger daughter. Once it was made and delivered she asked if I would make her 7 more to coordinate with other outfits. I couldn't believe someone was willing to pay for the things I made. I have since decided to make and try to sell some of my hair bows, tu tus, bracelets and clothes.

If you or someone you know is interested in such things look me up on Facebook at Ainsley's Closet.

2005

Tink has to know her birth date for school this year.

She already has the month and year down, we just had to add the year to it.

She could remember the 2000 part, but was having trouble with the 5.

I suggested it would be easy to remember because she is 5 years old.

A light went off in her head then.

"Ohhh, so last year I was born in 2004, because I was 4 years old. And next year it will be 2006, because I will be 6."

Not exactly.

Our week at the beach

Was filled with:

Beautiful days

Fun in the sand

Fun in the water(This bird later pooed on me)

More sand fun

Fun playing put-put

Fun on the amusement rides

Fun on the boardwalk

Fun at the Brass Balls

Basically, we had lots of FUN!!

We spent most of our days laying on the beach and playing in the ocean. Tink was determined that she could body board like the big kids. And she did. Even though she can barely swim she isn't afraid of being in the ocean.

Our evenings were spent walking the boardwalk, checking out the little shops and eating in the outdoor restaurants that line the 3 mile long boardwalk. Another favorite is playing put-put golf in the evenings.

The dogs even enjoyed the vacation. They were easy to travel with (especially after a tranquilizer for each dog) and were really well behaved the entire week.

Vacationing with my SIL and her boyfriend was interesting. We got to spend time with Court and got to know Nick. We actually spent less time with them than I thought we would. They did their own thing, mostly shopping, while we spent most of our time on the beach. Hubbs' older brother and his family showed up the day before we left and stayed a few blocks away, so we got to spend a fun day on the beach with my BIL and niece on Fri.

I have to say the vacation was a success and we had a great time. Although next year I think we should vacation alone. Much less stress.

The first day of kindergarten

Tink started kindergarten this week. I honestly thought with it being a new school for her and no friends she would be nervous and not want to go. Not so. She was excited about meeting new friends and loves her teacher and her classroom. My baby is growing up too fast!

3

Three more days till beach time!!

I have most of the packing done and the house about half cleaned. I hate coming home to a dirty house after vacation. The rest of the week is going to be filled with packing, cleaning and a hair appointment for me and Tink.

Soccer started again this week. Tink is thrilled to be back out on the field again with her BFF Boo. When we get home it will be time for school to start.

Where has the summer gone?

10, 9, 8

The countdown is on.

We will be laying on the beach in 8 days.

8!!!

What is that lovely scent?

Today my office stinks of floral ant and roach spray. The can says it will kill spiders, it does not. They are just floral scented spiders now. I hate spiders!!

Small Town Parade

Wanna know what a small town parade looks like?

First you have a small town.

Then you add some funny cars and guys in hillbilly hats.

The NYPD marching band and
every high school marching band for 5 counties.

Add a drill team of men in their undies with lawn chairs.
Plus every drill team and dance studio in the state.

Top it off with an adorable Tink and you have a small town parade!

Summer fun!!

This is what we have been up to this summer so far.

Soccer playing.

Daybreak watching.

Small town parading.

Maggie May cuddling.

Bike riding.

Rope jumping.

Front porch swinging.

Playground climbing.

Slip 'n Sliding!

We've been busy!!

What makes a birthday great??

Gifts in bed.
A party at the lake with cake and more gifts.

Your best friend there with you.

A diving board to jump off of.

Swimming all day.

Your first gun. Pink of course!

Your daddy teaching you how to shoot your gun.

That's what make a birthday GREAT!!

And yes, Tink got a real gun for her birthday. Hubbs insisted it was time for her to have her own gun. Tink loves it and is thrilled to target practice with her daddy.

Guess who's having a birthday??

(Tink and Boomer the 4'th of July.)

Yep, it's Tink! Not the donkey.

I can't believe she is 5 already!

I honor of her 5'th birthday I am going to list the 5 things I love most about this girl.

1. Her love of God. Tink has an amazing understanding and love of God.

2. Her kindness. She can't stand to see someone sad or hurt and all animals have a place in her heart. She is the sweetest most lovable kid I know. She needs snuggle time everyday.

3. Her sense of humor. This is one funny kid.

4. Her imagination. Tink has 2 imaginary friends, Isabella and her sister Bella, they go almost everywhere with us. Tink has an amazing ability to make up songs, stories and dances on the spot. Our days are filled with singing and dancing.

5. Her thirst for knowledge. Tink is always wanting to learn something new and questions everything. She loves going to school and is so excited to tell me about the things she has learned.

There is so much more that I love about Tink, I am so very proud to be her Mommy!

Happy Birthday Baby!!!

Skunk Stew!

This morning I let the dogs out while I made myself a bowl of cereal. I had taken two bits when I heard the dogs bark. I went to the door to check on them and what did I see?

Maggie May covered in mud! Darn dog! She just got a bath on Sunday!

I went out to get her and the stench hit me. Maggie May had been sprayed by a skunk. Apparently it happened in the front yard by the smell of things.

2 regular baths and a bath in tomato juice later and Maggie wasn't pawing her face and barking anymore. I locked her in the crate and headed out to work after changing clothes.

As I walked in the door of my office my boss asked why I smelled like a skunk.

Apparently Maggie rubbed off on me. I have since rinsed in tomato juice at the office and changed into a different shirt. I still smell. Now I smell like skunk and tomato juice. The making of skunk stew.

I am really looking forward to going home. I'm sure my entire house and the dog reeks!

Beach news

The first beach condo I found didn't work out. I have since found a new one. Crisis averted!

Then, last night we were visiting my MIL. She let it slip that my SIL had invited her to join us on our beach vacation. WHAT??!!

I am NOT spending a week with that woman!!!

I told Hubbs he needs to fix this situation. I'm not sure how this is going to be fixed without someone getting mad, but he needs to talk with his sister and uninvite their mom. If he can't do it I am going to have to insist on separate vacations.

Surprise!

I was just reading a post over at "The Meanest Mom" that Jana wrote. Check it out here http://themeanestmom.blogspot.com/2010/06/if-walls-could-talk.html It made me think about Hubbs and the story of our remodel.

Before Hubbs and I got married he had his bedroom at his Mom's decorated with black lights and posters of aliens and such that glowed in the dark. I REFUSED to let him decorate our house with that crap when we got married. It all sat in a box in our basement.

As we started remodeling I soon realized he was taking the posters and hanging them over the studs and insulation before he hung the drywall.

When I asked why he was doing this, he told me that he wanted the posters in the house, but I refused so he was making sure they got hung in the house.

Wow, someone in the future is going to have a big surprise when they tear down that drywall!

Father's Day fun

I could not think of a single thing to get Hubbs for Father's Day this year. One day last week I finally broke down and asked him what he wanted. A new 3-D deer bow target was the answer. Ok, I could do that.

Until I got to the sporting goods store. $180.oo!! No way!

So, Tink and I went to Target. I told her she could pick out anything she wanted for Daddy. I did suggest a new pair of sandals and she picked him out a pair. Then she saw the toy area and need to look. When passing the kiddie pool section she had a brilliant idea. A slip 'n slide! Daddy needed a slip 'n slide!

So, new sandals and a slip 'n slide it was. Wrapped in baby shower paper!

Hubbs loved it all! Although he is pretty sure the slip 'n slide was really meant for Tink.

VBS

I LOVED vacation bible school as a kid!

This week is vacation bible school at our church. Since I loved it as a kid, I thought I couldn't go wrong with volunteering to be a group leader for Tink's class. Hmmm.

Don't get me wrong, being there is fun.

Being in charge of 21, 4-6 year olds is interesting.

Having 1 that cries, 1 that is wild and constantly runs away and 1 that drinks so much red kool-aide that he pukes is not so much fun.

I am off to do it all again tonight. And every night this week.

I may be praying for my sanity before this is all over with.

Why?

So, I found a place at the beach. It fits every one's criteria for beach housing.

3 bedroom
between the inlet and 28th st.
available the week of Court's vacation
within walking distance to beach and boardwalk
dogs welcome
within price range

I called the guy who owns it. I sent deposit. He will email contract. All is good.

This was 50 days ago. 50!!!

Still no contract.
He won't return my emails or phone calls.
Two weeks ago I did catch him online and sent him an IM. He claimed to have been in El Salvador for two weeks and would email me a contract ASAP. Still nothing.

I'm pretty sure we have no place at the beach to stay. AND he has my deposit!

I am now demanding my money back. And looking for a new place to stay.

Why, why, why do I always take people at their word???

Beach plans

Hubbs, Tink and I are going to the beach in August. Hubbs talked to his twin sister and she decided she would like to go with us. This is going to be fun! Seriously. I'm not be sarcastic this time.

Hubbs' twin is a blast. She has lived out of town for the last several years and has never gotten to know Tink very well. I think this will be good for all of us.

I have already found a condo that will let us bring Maggie May and Bocephus along. I have no idea why NO ONE will watch them for us. Oh well. Some doggie tranquilizers and we are all set for a week of fun at the beach.

I am getting excited already!

This is Hubbs and his twin on each end with their older brother in the middle.

Why didn't I figure this out sooner?

A couple of week ago at church a question was asked. I have been thinking a lot about it since then.

"When we kneel at the alter to pray we bring all of our "baggage" with us and pray that God will take it and carry it for us. But then, when we get up to walk away we pick the baggage up and carry it back home with us. Why don't we leave it there for God to carry?"

I am guilty of this. I pray and pray that God will take my baggage and carry it for me. Then I walk away, dragging it all behind me. I prayed right then that God would help me let it all go, help me learn how to let him carry it for me.

I am feeling much better these days. I think this is something I should have learned a long time ago.

Conversation with Tink

Me: I think you need to get a new attitude.

Tink: No, I'll just keep the one I have.


Lord, do I have a hard time keeping a straight face!

Soccer game and a fight on the way.

Tink had her first soccer game of the season last night. It was awful. The kids on our team acted like they were in a daze. Tink stood on the field and played with her hair and whined that she was tired and thirsty. We ended up scoring 2 points and the other team had 10 or 12. I'm not sure, score is not officially kept at the games.

Lucky for us my nephew was on the other team. I'm sure you all remember me talking about my brothers boys, the mafia. They are terribly behaved little turds.

When the game was over I told my nephew he played a good game. I then told Tink she made a great stop and a couple of really good take aways during the game.

When we got 3 minutes down the road my cell phone rang. It was my brother wanting to talk to Tink. Tink refused to talk, she was too tired she said. My brother responded "That's ok, I was just calling so Chase could rub it in that Tink's team sucks and we kicked their ass."

Ok. "Well, tell Chase that he did great and Aunt D is proud of him."

Hubbs could tell I was pissed when I hung up, but I told him I would tell him about it later. I didn't want to repeat what had been said in front of Tink. I told Tink my brother called to tell her she played a great game.

Why, why, why would an adult call to say something like that to a 4 year old?! I hope he feels like the ass that he truly is! I typically keep my mouth shut for the sake of family peace, but it's not going to take much more for me to blow up.

In fact

It was the thought of turning another year older that was giving me the sick feeling.

Now I am sitting at my desk at work a year older, no baby on the way, with a sick Tink at home, eating left over birthday cake for lunch.

Life is unfair.

The cake almost makes up for all the rest.

Almost.

2 options...

Tink to Hubbs:

Dad, you can either answer my mom or get a busted ass. You choose one. Did you pick the busted ass??

Really? Did that just come out of her mouth?!

Maybe, just maybe...

I have had this half hungry, half nauseous feeling all day today. This is the same early preggo feeling I had with Tink. I'm sure it's just wishful thinking. I am going to keep my fingers crossed!

Then again maybe it's just the thought of turning another year older tomorrow that is making me feel a little sickish.

4/13/2010

This is what my day looked like.

The view from my front porch when I woke up.
The view beside me at dance class. Baby A, isn't she beautiful?!

The view in front of me during dance. Silly, silly Tink! I don't thing that's how the dance is supposed to go.

Tink... pay attention.

Hmmm, let's see how soccer goes tonight.

Easter

This is what Easter looked like at our house.

We hunted eggs for 2 days. We are still finding candy filled eggs in the yard. Tink had tons of fun playing with all her cousins.