Sunday, August 31, 2008

Dear Friends


I'm not sure how to tell you all this so I'm just going to say it:

We experienced a miscarriage last night. Scott and I are very upset about this especially after seeing the baby's heartbeat and being almost through the first trimester. As you must know, this is a difficult time for our family. We had hoped to expand it and now are at a loss to know what will happen next. We have faith in God that everything happens for a reason including something like this. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

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Thursday, August 28, 2008

America Needs Environmental Education

Please read this open letter to Congress. If you agree with it you can click here to send a copy to your Representative:



Dear Member of Congress,

Our nation is grappling with complicated environmental issues that affect all of us as well as generations to come. It is more critical than ever that U.S. schools provide students with a solid environmental education. However, our schools are increasingly leaving environmental education behind and reallocating resources to emphasize math and reading instruction in order to meet mandates under the No Child Left Behind Act.

Congress must pass the No Child Left Inside Act, which will amend the National Environmental Education Act (NEEA) to:

1. Extend the NEEA through fiscal year 2009.

2. Introduce incentives for state educational agencies to create their own Environmental Literacy Plan. State plans would integrate environmental education into K-12 curriculum and ensure that graduates are environmentally literate.

3. Expand the scope of NEAA by creating the National Capacity Environmental Education Grant Program, which authorizes the Secretary of the USDE to award grants to State Educational Agencies with Environmental Literacy Plans.

4. Authorize funding to help states, schools systems, and environmental education partners implement their state's Environmental Literacy Plan.

5. Provide $14 million additional funding for teacher and professional development training programs to support environmental education.

The No Child Left Inside (NCLI) Act goes a long way toward giving environmental education the attention it deserves. Please support strengthening the NEAA by supporting environmental education.

Thank you,


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Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Wordless Wednesday


This is the only photo I was able to take of Ryan's first trip to Chuck E Cheese. He absolutely LOVED it! He was so excited to go to his friend Jack's birthday party. But, I spent most of the time chasing Ryan from game to game. By the time we left we were both exhausted! Next time we go, Dad is coming with us...I definitely need back-up at this place!

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Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Measure Your Carbon Footprint FREE!



Earth Day Network has just released its newest tool to combat climate change: The new, updated, and much more fun Ecological Footprint Calculator.

In this new tool created by Global Footprint Network, you can create a three-dimensional avatar of your choosing, and tour your virtual neighborhood. Then you will be asked a series of questions about your food consumption, energy use, favorite mode of transportation, type of residence, recycling commitment, and spending habits. You can even choose to take a long version or a short version of the quiz!

The Footprint Calculator will tell you how many "planets" would be necessary to sustain human life- if everyone lived just like you, and how many acres of land and tons of carbon necessary to sustain your lifestyle. You can even revisit your quiz to see where she "went wrong", and find out how to reduce your carbon footprint.

If you are a teacher or professor, encourage your students to take the quiz and experiment with the answers. An interesting, engaging and highly educational way to teach sustainability and inspire change.

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Monday, August 25, 2008

Fossil Rim

Last Friday, Scott, Ryan, our friend Alex and I went on a little road trip to Fossil Rim. I just love going there. It is never the same and you never know what you'll see. We were all so busy feeding the animals that these were the only pictures we took. Alex was nice enough to take these pictures of Ryan at the petting zoo.






I just wish I could drive and click a camera at the same time. I would have loved to have gotten a few pictures of all of us feeding all the deer. Especially the ones that would slobber all over the car (and us) when they stuck there head in the car. Ahh...good times ;)

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Sunday, August 24, 2008

Divine Consign


I am pregnant and trying to be frugal. Which is not an easy thing to do when it comes to finding nice maternity clothes. That is until I came across Divine Consign.

Divine Consign is the Dallas Metroplex’s favorite twice-yearly consignment sale specializing in the highest quality gently worn children’s, junior's and maternity clothing, toys, books, games, DVDs, baby equipment (strollers, exersaucers, etc.) and baby and children’s furniture.

I went to the Arlington sale this past week and scored a truck, big wheel, pj's and a shirt for Ryan. I also picked up a few maternity clothes for me. A total of 5 sweaters, 5 shirts, a pair of shorts and 2 pairs of pants. My total purchase was $48.12! I couldn't believe it!

This is why I can't wait to go to the Divine Consign in Plano this weekend! It is supposed to be a even bigger sale than the one I went to. If you are interested in finding out more about the sales in the DFW area just click here.

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Tuesday, August 19, 2008



What if there was a vote to decide if $13.5 billion in tax breaks for oil companies should go into oil alternatives, like solar and wind? What would you want your Senator to do?

Well, as you probably guessed, there was such a vote. We needed 60 votes to prevail, and 59 of them were in. But John McCain ducked the vote.

As a result, instead of powering millions of homes with clean energy and building next-generation solar technology, we're giving ExxonMobil and other companies billions in tax breaks at a time when they're already making record profits.

This vote is political dynamite. And if we all pitch in, we can make sure voters know about McCain's give-away to big oil. And it's a twofer—MoveOn.org will run the ad in the battleground state of North Carolina to help remind voters that Senator Elizabeth Dole, who's up for re-election, voted for big oil tax breaks, too.
The ad links Republican support for oil tax breaks with the campaign contributions they're taking from the oil companies. Exposing their favors for big oil can puncture Republican promises to help people hurting from high gas prices.

This ad can help defeat McCain, win a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, and promote real solutions to the energy crisis. Can you help spread the word?

Just one more reason I plan to vote for Obama!

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Sunday, August 17, 2008

My Morning Sickness Rant

Here's the truth, I love my son and am excited about having another child, but I absolutely hate being pregnant. I turn into a cow, my ankles cease to exist, and I become an insecure mess. I wake up what seems like a million times during the night, either to pee, to throw up, or just for fun I suppose. Okay, maybe not a million times but it sure feels like it.

I cannot get enough sleep. Today Scott took Ryan most of the day and I just laid in bed all day feeling like roadkill. I did manage to get up and take a shower (which made me feel like fainting). I have made best friends with the toilet, and have basically become a hobbit in my own home, what else could I possibly complain about?

Okay, I'm done (for now)! Please understand that this rant has come from a woman that is only 2 months pregnant and has just realized she has 8 more months of pregnancy to endure. I can get through it...I just mightneed to vent a little! Sorry!

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Thursday, August 14, 2008

I HATE Algebra!

Tonight I am studying for the math portion of the THEA test. I passed the writing and reading portions of the test when I went in "cold turkey." However, I failed to pass the math portion by 2 points! This really sucks because I have always disliked algebra and most math classes. Now I am having to study the same crap that I learned (and subsequently forgot) about 20 years ago!

Well, I better get to it...wish me luck. Better yet, please say a prayer for me. I have a feeling I might need some divine intervention to get through this ;)

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Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

One Sleepy Mommy

Maybe it's just because I'm in my first trimester or maybe it's because I am a little stressed out, either way I have been sleeping much more than usual lately. My new daily sleep routine goes something like this:

Go to bed sometime between 11pm and midnight. Wake-up at least 1-3 times during the night because of the cat or Ryan. Wake up at 7am when Ryan comes in to tell me good morning. Take a nap usually in the morning around 9am or 10am and sleep until Noon or 1pm.

Is that a lot? For some reason when I add it up in my head it doesn't seem like all that much, but Scott told me today that he has noticed that I am sleeping more. All I know is I could use at least one more nap sometime in the afternoon. Or, better yet, maybe I will try to get to bed by 10pm. Yeah, let's see if I can pull that one off!

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Thursday, August 7, 2008

My Little Secret Revealed


Okay, I have been ready to burst keeping this secret under wraps until going to the doctor today, now it official...I'm pregnant!

Here's the story...a couple of weeks ago I got up at the crack of dawn to go to the doctor to have my stomach scoped. I was diagnosed a while back with a couple of stomach ulcers and I needed to have the doctor look to see if they had healed or not. I had to wait what seemed like forever. After a while the nurse called me back and told me she needed a urine sample, etc. I was just getting settled in when the nurse came in to tell me that they could not perform the procedure because the routine pregnancy test came back POSITIVE! I went and had the blood work done and I am indeed "with child."

I went to the doctor today and saw the baby's heartbeat! I'm in love, already! I am only about 6 weeks pregnant and given my age I am not out of the woods yet. I have to get through the next 6 weeks without any problems and I also have to make sure the baby is healthy.

Even after hearing all the wonderful news from the doctor I was still somewhat hesitant to make this announcement. Then it dawned on me...non of this is really up to me. I mean I can do my best to eat right, take care of myself, etc., but at some point I know that it is up to God whether or not I am meant to have another wonderful healthy child. So, I figured I would choose to have faith that this is meant to be and I should celebrate the news by sharing it.

So now you know. I hope I don't jinx anything by sharing the news so early! I'm just so happy, I couldn't help myself!

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Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Rue La La… An Entirely New Online Shopping Experience


I just found a great place to save money while over at Lipstick to Crayons. Check it out:

Rue La La is… an exclusive, invitation-only online destination where Members discover premier-brand, private sale Boutiques, each open for just a brief window of time. Membership is free. It’s also invitation-only and we have your exclusive VIP membership code. Simply go to https://www.ruelala.com/ and click “invited by a member”, this is where you can add this email address (vip@ruelala.com) in order to gain membership access to the site. Invite a friend and receive a $10 Rue La La Credit towards your first order.

Thanks Lipstick and Crayons for letting us know about this place! I've already signed up and looking forward to saving some money!

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