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Can't. Keep. Up...

Wow! It seems as though I can't keep up with myself!

I recently started a new part-time job. I LOVE IT! However, big chunks of my day are now accounted for. Just when I was getting back on the blogging bandwagon, I fell of again.

I will be back. I promise. Just as soon as I figure out how to manage this thing called life!

I'm a Cheap Date

If you know me, you know that I love a bargain!!!

I recently found this site...

which lead me to this site...

Also, I joined Swagbucks. Not really sure how it works, but someone said, 'Free Starbucks', so I was all over it!

I was Green before Green was Cool!

As you know, Christine called me out on her blog. The funny thing was, I sent her a text when I read the post and gave her a hard time for doing so.

We chatted and laughed (totally LOVE her!).

The more we chatted, the more I remembered...

She was telling me about how the disgusting composting potty thing worked...'blah, blah, blah...seat with a bucket underneath...blah, blah, blah...carry it out to the composting pile when it's full and dump it...blah, blah, blah...' (she sounds like that, you know)

My response...'Holy crap, Christine! I was green before green was cool! When we were young, we would take road trips. My parents (*ahem* Dad) hated to stop for us to pee! They were in the restaurant business and ALWAYS bought pickles in 5 gallon buckets for the restaurant (you know, like the orange ones you can now purchase at Home Depot). When they were empty, they would bring them home for our next road trip. Instead of stopping, we would have to pee in those. Then, when we did stop, we would dump the contents on some plant in the middle of no where.'

Composting at it's finest!

I was Green before Green was cool!

(Btw, I also mentioned to Christine in that same conversation that I would NOT be stopping by to enjoy a fresh, home-grown salad!)

09 Rewind...

It has been a crazy long time since I have been on here!

I need to start by going back to '09 a bit.

I promised photos of the Carpenter Reunion and never posted those...so here are a few photos from a fabulous Thanksgiving reunion.

First Cousins (3 are missing)

Cousins Kids (all present!)

We had a fantastic time catching up with one another! We hope that it is not another 10 years before we get together again.

The 2nd part of '09 rewind is an update on Miche.

One of the reasons I could not find my way to my blog in December was because Miche Girls were VERY busy! We had our best month ever! Thanks so much to those who sent business our way. We appreciate you!

'09 Rewind, Part 3 concerns my brother.

Yup, hell must've frozen in December, because, after 10 years, my brother came to visit!

I love my brother TONS! I have great memories of him as a kid. However, I do find it hard to hold a conversation with him. He has such an interesting personality and it is a bit hard to connect with him. He is hilarious, though and I find that part of him very interesting! He and my Kaylee seemed to hit it off quite well!

Also, in December '09, we celebrated 3 years of having Kaylee in our family. We had a quiet celebration at our favorite Chinese restaurant.

Well, I think I have brought you up to 2010 now. Can't wait to see what this year has in store!

Need a Fabulous Christmas Present?

Now that December has rolled around, you are probably starting to think about Christmas.

I just want to take a moment to remind you of the fabulous bags that I have come to love. Miche Bags are perfect for any one in your life that carries a purse.

Please contact me at Miche Girls and I would be glad to talk to you about the bag. I would love to help you choose the perfect new bag and shells for someone on your Christmas list!

Howard Payne Homecoming 2009

As many of you know, I went to a small Baptist university. I loved every single minute of it! Could not have gone to a school that suited me better.

Well, I had not been back for Homecoming in YEARS...(some of my friends said that the last time I was back, I was showing sonogram pictures of my now 11 year old son!)

So, I decided to pack up the kids and go!

So much fun...and now I think I have 2 future yellowjackets on my hands!

Miche Girls New Website!

It has been a crazy weekend already! We are Miche all over the place!

We have parties this weekend and have also managed to launch our website! We would love for you to check it out!

We decided that this would be a good time to give away a few things...so, the first 10 people to fill out the 'Contact Miche Girls' form will win a $5 gift certificate to use toward the purchase of a Good, Better or Best Bundle from Miche Girls!

Also, if you book a party via the contact form, we will enter you in a drawing to win one of the brand new purse hooks! Remember, a party can be either in home or catalog. So, if you don't live in my area and want to have a party, we can take care of that too!

Hop on over and check out the site...we are quite proud!

Miche Girls!

Check out these great new shells!

The Big Bag is due out in the next month, so if you have been holding out for that...the wait is almost over!

Lastly, my partner and I are working on getting our own website! I will let you know when it is up and running...

(btw, if you have no idea what I am talking about, check it out here. Just remember, this is not my site, if you are interested in purchasing a bag and shells, you can contact me at cbowren at michebagshows dot com. I will ship anywhere!)

Wal-Mart Sucks

Ok...well, not Wal-Mart (although, I do hate shopping there), but the people who shop there do!

So, school starts one week from today. For those of you who might be new to my blog, I have home-schooled Jake for the past 2 years. He is going back to public school in one week. So, we spent the weekend doing all the things I haven't had to do for 2 years...buying school clothes and school supplies.

The day started out pretty uneventful. We went to Sketchers (I love their deals - 4 pair of shoes for $107!) and then to the dance store (Kaylee starts ballet on Monday, too), then to Old Navy...we were truckin' along! Then, to the dreaded Wal-mart.

Now, everything that is in me hates to go to Wal-Mart...too many people, not a clean store...I just hate it. I *almost* went to HEB for school supplies...why did I not listen to myself? Ugh!

I have a habit when I shop. I ALWAYS (well, almost always, obviously) put my purse where the child seat is and buckle it in. Seriously, I mean, wrap the seat belt around the handle of the purse and buckle it. However, Saturday, Kaylee wanted to sit in the seat and so I dropped my purse into the back of the basket.

BIG MISTAKE!!!

So, there we are...all 4 of us...feeling really good about what we have accomplished...trekking over to the school supply section. There are a bizillion people in the school supply section! Everyone is grabbing crap off the shelves, bumping into each other, yelling at their kids. It is crazy! My family is dividing and conquering...read the list, go find the item, come back and drop it into the cart. I don't remember what I was looking for, but I turned to pick it up and the moment I turned around, I knew something wasn't right. I look in the back of the basket and see my purse wide open! I knew immediatly my wallet was gone!

I then start looking for David, who is off finding his school supply. We find each other and I tell him my wallet is gone. Now, at this point, we have probably been in the store a total of 15 minutes. He asks if I am sure I didn't leave it in the car and tells me he is going to check. I responded and asked him to give me his wallet so I could start calling the bank and the credit card company because I knew it was missing.

I was on the phone with the bank within 5 minutes of me realizing my wallet was missing. In this short amount of time, the bank told me that the idiots had already checked out of Wal-Mart TWICE! AMAZING!! She stopped the usage within a few minutes of me being on the phone with her. Then, as we were talking, within about 5 minutes, they were trying to use the card at HEB grocery store! CRAZY! Thank God she had already cut the card off! That was kind of sweet, actually! I loved it theat the idiots already knew that I knew! HA!

Once we called the police, called the credit card company and the bank, we went to talk to a manager at Wal-Mart. When I left my information for her, she told me that I was the 4th wallet reported stolen that day. WHAT???? Do you think someone should be working security in the school supply section?? (Guess not!)

So, then we went to HEB to talk to a manager about the charges that the idiots made there. You see, when they couldn't use the debit card, they started using my credit card...before I could get that call in, they had racked up $600 at HEB. I spoke with the manager about what had happened and gave her the times of the charges. She looked them up and discovered they had purchased gift cards...4 separate transactions, minutes apart, all for gift cards (why does this not red flag the system as suspicious activity?).

So, now I have spent the day getting a new drivers license and new social security cards for myself and the kids. I am so over the money part of this...I could actually care less that they stole my cash (of which I usually have none, but actually had $60 on Saturday) and my credit cards. I can put a stop to those things. I am really hating the fact that my drivers license and social security card is floating around out there somewhere...and those of my children! (Not to worry, we joined Life Lock Saturday night, but what a huge pain!)

So, all of this to say, 'Go with your gut!' I so wish I would have listened to myself and gone to HEB or locked my purse in the child seat like I usually do! I could just kick myself.

Lesson learned!

My New Ride

Hubby got tired of pouring money into my previous car. This is what I got instead of an oil change and a tire rotation...

Miche, My Love

I told you a while back that I love the Miche Bag. It is a great concept and very well executed!

I have been talking to people about my love of the Miche Bag for almost a year now. I have sent well over a dozen people to the website to purchase their bag and shells.

Well, my girl and I decided that we have sold so many of these purses to other people that it was time to make some money of our own. So, in May, we became Miche Bag representatives.

I would love to share with you why I love the product or any other information you might be interested in about the bag. You can contact me at cbowren (at) michebagshows (dot) com

Where I Come From...

I want to use this post to tell you a little more about me and where I come from. It will be a long post, so if you are interested, keep reading. If not, feel free to find something else that interests you on the vast world wide web.

Let's just jump in with both feet...

I come from a broken, abusive , alcoholic home. My 'parents' (I will explain that later) divorced when I was 4. So, I am either with my mother, who was verbally and physically abusive, or my father, who is a {very active} alcoholic. We moved A LOT! At least once a year, if not more. If I had wanted to put roots down and share the secrets of our home, I would have had to trust quickly and share before we moved to the next place and I had to start all over again. Although, trusting, sharing and telling the truth to anyone whom I met would have been taboo. We didn't talk about the huge elephant in the middle of our house...better to keep up the front.

We lied...fudged the truth...skirted the issues...ALL THE TIME! We would buy new clothes and not tell our step-dad, we would go to the movies and lie about our age, we would go to church and not tell anyone what was happening at home, we would never talk about the alcoholism or the abuse. Just pretend it didn't exist...that way we seemed normal. But I knew we weren't. I knew from going to school and to friend's houses...we weren't normal!

I never understood why we kept everything so secret. Why not tell someone? They might help us. Why not? Why not? But, I didn't tell people...because my parents told me not to...and I ALWAYS did what I was told. After all, they might not like me...or worse, bring on more abuse, if I didn't. The great thing is that at the age of 8, God used an aunt to tell me about His safety and saving grace. I know He is the only reason I did not spin out of control and continue the cycle of lies, alcoholism and abuse.

Well, this perfect little facade came crashing down one day. I was 20 years old. I was 'home' from college for the summer (I was actually at my ex-step-mom's house - yeah, let that soak in - because I did not want to spend the summer with either of my biological parents). She and I had then, and still do to this day, a super close relationship! My step-mom (I hate that term, so let's call her mom) was in Glorietta, NM for a retreat. I am home alone. The phone rings. It is my (biological) mother. She has recently been arguing with my grandmother about a secret that she learned about from a cousin (see, these lies go WAY BACK) and she needed to come clean about something. She calls and says, 'I need to tell you something before your grandmother decides to tell you. Your father is not your father. You are the product of an affair.' Yup! That's me...the 20 year old who is all of a sudden a bastard child! So, my world is spinning. I am in a fetal position, crying my eyes out, trying to figure out what I do with this information. I am questioning who I am and who I ever claimed to be. What's more, I am trying to figure out if she is right. Could she be mistaken? Couldn't he be my father and she just THINKS he isn't? And if he isn't my father, why would she allow me to spend 20 years of my life putting up with his alcoholism and all the hurt that brought on? I mean, would she really let me waste that much time and energy? It was at this time in my life that I decided I would NOT continue the lies. These were not my lies and I didn't have to pretend they didn't exist. I needed to make other people own their lies.

I begin bringing these issues into the light. I begin asking the questions that my family doesn't want to answer. I begin seeking counseling for my co-dependency. Man, is my family mad during this time. After all, things are more comfortable in the dark. We don't have to answer the tough questions in the dark. We don't have to be responsible for our actions in the dark. We don't have to tell the truth in the dark. We don't have to dig up all the stuffed feelings in the dark. These were very tumultuous times between my family and me. They liked it better when I was the 'Yes Girl' and just did what I was told. But I was SO over that...all that got me was heartache and I didn't want that anymore...I wanted the truth and answers!! (I will say that now, my family is open and honest about these times and issues. Together we have learned that hiding the truth only makes the hurt worse.)

So, I have carried this philosophy to all aspects of my life. I am not a 'Yes Girl'. I am the one who asks the hard questions and tells the hard truth. I bring things to the light. If something doesn't seem right to me, I will dig down and find out why. I cannot spend any more days of my life not talking about the big elephant in the middle of the room. If you want a pat answer or someone to just push your agenda, then don't come to me. If you want to get down to the bare bones and get real answers, I am your gal.

Now, I know that my Christian friends could find scripture to support their reasoning on why I should tip-toe around the real issues. I could find scripture to support why I shouldn't. Let me just say that none of us are perfect, just forgiven. So, if I am 'out of line', my Maker will speak with me about it when I am before His Throne of Grace. On this earth, I am called to be concerned about my Lord, my family, and speaking the truth...even if it hurts (and most of the time, it does. This is how Satan gets his digs in...he loves for us to keep it in the dark and let it fester!)

Fast forward to today...I created this blog to share my thoughts (hence the name). Some thoughts you will like, some thoughts you won't. Some thoughts will be funny, some thoughts will hurt. One thing I assure you...the thoughts will be the truth as I see it. I know I am not for everyone...nobody is. Feel free to read...or not. Feel free to comment...or not. I would love to have a healthy, 2-sided conversation about any of my posts. I will not, however, be lectured AT. I have 5 parents who raised me (even if you don't like the final outcome) so I don't need another one and I have a conscience and a Guide, so I don't need those either. I am here to share things as I see them, not as you would like me to see them.

I hope you stay on to enjoy the ride. I think it will be fun!

Deep Thoughts...

My aunt sent this tidbit to me in an email. It explains a lot of where I come from..

Be who you say you are.. and say what you feel .. because those that matter, don't mind ... and those that mind, don't matter!

Playing Catch Up

Now that my E-Party is concluded, I feel the need to catch you up on some things that I left hanging...

1. As you probably know, I have spent the better part of 16 months serving on our search committee for Director of Preschool Ministries. Well, I am happy to say that yesterday, our church voted...and approved out candidate! I am so excited that Tobey is soon to be a part of the FBCSA Staff! I can't wait to see the exciting things that will happen in the Preschool area in the years to come!

2. Team Tabb
Update Given By Jennifer on May 13:

Landon successfully nursed on me for the first time this morning!!! It wasn't a lot, but it kept him satisfied until his next feeding! And, yesterday he finished his entire bottle both times it was offered to him! YEA!! He wants to come home! :-) (And, I suspect he WILL be home within a couple of weeks--max.)

Leila and Logan were slightly less than motivated to nurse or take a bottle this a.m. However, yesterday Leila finished half of her bottle in the morning and the whole bottle last night! Logan, is just slackin'! He has taken a few swallows from the bottle, but he doesn't really care to work for food apparently. ;-)

Landon was 5lbs 2.1oz last night---my chunky monkey. Logan reached 3lbs 15.5oz (Landon's birth weight), and Leila was 3lbs, 13.5oz. They're moving right along.

The doctor said he expects them all to be home within a month! WOW!

(formerly known as the Quad Squad) are doing very well. Unless you have been hiding under a rock and not reading my blog, you know that I have a dear friend that recently gave birth to quads. Unfortunatly (to us on this earth, anyway), little Ella Faith is sitting at the throne of Jesus. The other three are still in the hospital, but no oxygen, no PIC lines. Logan is even in an open air crib already! Amazing! So, what's left? The other 2 have to be able to hold their body temps and all of them need to learn to suck/swallow/breath so they can get theri feedings by mouth. God is AWESOME!

Landon

Leila

Logan

3. You know how much I LOVE this bag...well, some great things are on the horizon! My girl and I are working on some things and we will let you know as soon as we can!

4. The E-Party went really well. There were 6 orders that I know of...from people that would not otherwise know about Plum Precious Gals (which is the point of an E-Party) so that is great in my book. Do not know what I earned yet...or how much my E-Party donated towards adoption, but I will let you know as soon as I have those numbers.

Just thought I would tie up some loose ends today. Have a great one!

Care Packages for the Homeless

Do you have one of those things that you're always 'gonna do' but it seems to never get done?

Well, I finally checked one of those things off of my list.

You see, I live in San Antonio. We have homeless on almost every major intersection. I pass someone holding a sign at least 3 times a week...usually more. I am so glad that God has chosen to bless me and that I do not have to live like that. I do not know their stories. Some probably have legit stories, some do not. It is not my place to judge that.

I was taught as a young child not to give them money. My parents felt that giving them money would only keep them from looking for work...or would encourage them to buy alcohol...or keep them dependent on others. Now, we never discussed what we should do for them, just that we should not give them money.

Then, one day, my step-mom (I hate that term...Mom) told me about when she was young. Her daddy owned a machine shop near the railroad tracks in Odessa, Texas (you know, when West Texans actually made money from oil...back in the day...). Homeless would get off the train on which they hitched a ride and often come into the shop and ask for money. My Papaw would never give them money, but he always had care packages on hand. Bags that contained bread, lunchmeat and soda. He would hand those out to people that came in asking for help...or better yet, have his children hand them out. Ever since my mom first told this story, I thought that is exactly what we should do to help people who find themselves holding signs, trying to make their way.

So, fast forward about 25 years...I have a son who thinks we should give money to everyone holding a sign. He has a HUGE heart and just wants to help everyone that we come in contact with. When I drive past or tell him that we are not going to give them money, he just doesnt understand why.

So, I finally did what I always have said I was going to do. I went to the store and bought 5 pouches of tuna. I brought them home, got five bags and divided them up. I then sorted thru my kids snack box...you know the one...the one with perfectly good snacks that they will never eat all of...and pulled out a bunch of great things to add to the bags. I added raisins, crackers, cookies and a capri-sun into the bags with the tuna. I tied them all up and put them in the back of my van. THEN, today, I had another brain-storm...they needed to have some God in them. So, I ran to the store and bought some tracts. They are titled, 'You Are Not Alone'. Slid those into the bags this morning.

Now, I am actually looking forward to seeing my next homeless person. Can't wait for my son to open the side door on the van and hand a care package to some unsuspecting person on the street!

Gel Pens REVOLT!

We are tired of being used!

This woman has carried us around in her calendar for over a year!

Why on earth does she need so many of us anyway? Why can't she just choose random pens to carry? No...she needs blue for one kids activities...pink for the other kids activities...red for her activities...I mean, come on, could she be ANY MORE ANAL???

She uses us...chews on us...lets her kids abuse us...

We are NOT going to take it any more!

Here is the plan...

On Sunday, April 5th, WE ARE FINISHED!

Whichever of us she grabs first will start leaking all over her fingers. When she freaks out and sets that one free, she will grab the next one and that one will do the same. We will repeat this process until she finally frees us all! Hopefully she is smart and won't have to go thru all of us before she gets the clue...although, we may be giving her too much credit here!

OK...READY, BREAK!

Update by human: it only took me 4 pens bursting in the span of Sunday School and Worship Service to get the clue and set the pens free!

Photo courtesy of crazytales562

I Had To

I said i wouldn't do it, but I had to!

My husband was complaining about his lack of underoos...

so I had to wash and hang dry!

Ugh!

Anytime that heating coil wants to arrive will be fine with me...

Tag, I'm It!

My former co-worker,~B, tagged me. I have to say, this is my first official tag! So fun!

Along with the award, there is a set of questions to answer. Each question can only have a one-word answer. Which, for those of you who know me, know that one word answers don't come easily to me!

Here goes:
1. Where is your cell phone? pocket

2. Where is your significant other? home office

3. Your hair color? bottle red

4. Your mother? interesting

5. Your father? dead

6. Your favorite thing? laptop

7. Your dream last night? nonexistent

8. Your goal? debt free

9. The room you are in? living

10. Your hobby? many

11. Your fear? losing a loved one

12. Where do you want to be in six years? thinner

13. Where were you last night? friend's

14. What you are not? reserved

15. One of your wish list items? kitchen reno

16. Where you grew up? everywhere

17. The last thing you did? cooked

18. What you are wearing? PJs

19. Your TV? HGTV

20. Your pet? hyper

21. Your computer? laptop

22. Your mood? somber

23. Missing someone? grandmother

24. Your car? needing repairs

25. Something you are not wearing? one sock

26. Favorite story? Goldie

27. Your Summer? hot

28. Love someone? many

29. Your favorite color? none

30. When was the last time you laughed? second ago

31. Last time you cried? morning

Now, it is my turn to tag a few people. If I tag you, grab the award and the questions and tell us a bit about yourself.

Here are the people I would like to hear from:

Lana

Lisa

~LL~

Kendra

Can't wait to hear from you!