Thursday, June 23, 2011

Study = no fun

I have a test coming up next Wed, that I really need to pass, so I don't have to take this class in nursing school.  I don't know about you  but after being out of school for 3.5 years, I find it hard to sit down and study.  Not to mention I have my lil princess on summer break that is constantly wanting to do something.  I know I need to pass this and that I need to study but I find everything else seems priority than studying.  So what are your study habits and what tips do you have for this busy single mom?

Did I mention Friday is suppose to be pretty and sunny, would be a nice pool day for me and the Princess, but maybe I should call it a study day?  What shall it be?

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Fancy Nancy Birthday Party Help

My lil princess birthday isn't until August, but it never hurts to plan a little early does it?  At hobby lobby the other day when purchasing fabric my daugther spotted some fancy Nancy material and just had to have it, so of course I bought it.  Now she is requesting to have a fancy Nancy birthday party, which is fine with me because I don't have to pick out a theme now.  I just need some suggestions to help my mind to rolling with ideas. 
I thought about having them to dress up in "fancy" attire, and I would supply to boas,gloves, necklaces etc.  I also would like this party to be outside.  I could sit up a table and put some coloring sheets down for them to color.  But this is about as far as I have gotten. So all you creative thinkers out there, what are your suggestions?

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Date Night

After a long stressful, sleep deprived few weeks, and learning the ice cream and a MOOVIE at Chaney's isn't until next week, I decided me and my boyfriend was long over due with a date.  I have been dying to go on a date especially since I bought a fabulous dress, just for a special occasion.

So after talking we decided we was going to make a trip to Nashville and hang out down town, and we both had to dress up.  On top of that my boyfriend made reservations at the Melting Pot which was amazing as always.  After our amazing meal and being stuffed to the gills, we went to a little side bar for a little dancing.  Note to everyone: my boyfriend is an amazing dancer, as for me I can barley move my hips lol.  But thanks to Zumba  that I attend weekly has helped out in a tremendous way.
Date night was a huge success and much needed time together without a child for a few hours.  I just adore this man so much. :)

And on another note, I have a little fish on my hands.  My daughter that was terrified, screaming bloody murder when I got her in a pool and wrap her little arms around my neck as tight as could be...loves the water now(as long as she can touch) But she has began to pick up the skills to swimming, and I just love this.  I would love for her to love swimming as much as I did when I was little.  My parents couldn't keep me out of the pool, with that being said I was on the local swim team for 10 years summer and winter team.  Hopefully this week we will be able to attend the water park where Kenzie can practice more.  And I get to go kayaking this week with a friend from school, I am excited hope the weather is pretty.  O yea and I have to study for my test coming up very soon.

Hope everyone has a great weekend, I will enjoy the rest of the weekend working, and spending time with my father, time with Brian's family!  Happy father's day to all the fathers out there.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Anyone need a Kleenex holder?

Hello everyone!  I made it back, I hope you all have had a fabulous weekend and good week so far.  Mine has been a little crazy, running everywhere and work has been WILD  wonderful.  I believe that past few nights it has been a full moon. 

One of my gym friends emailed me and told be about a blueberry festival  coming up and that I should try to be a vendor.  I informed her that I had very little to sale at the moment, and that I work every weekend.  I offered to pay half her booth if she would set my stuff up with hers, just to see what sales and doesn't.  That would give me a starting point on what to keep working on.  I am so excited about this, but nervous that I won't sale anything. 

But on a good note I have made a Kleenex holder.  I love these little guys, they are so darn cute.  Not to mention they look way more amazing than the boring plastic wrapper than they come in.
Told you they were cute, and my quantity is pathetic, a good start.  I have made a few pouches but have sold most of them, or kept for my pleasure. 

 My little princess has been hard at work as well, she has helped me cut out my shapes for my applique shirts I have been making.  Pictures to come, I promise.  They turned out pretty cute, I was bummed on a few I had the marker I use to bleed through on the fabric and I can't get it out YIKES.  So lesson learned don't use a permanent marker to trace your shapes with.  Guess that is the fun in making homemade crafts.

My next project is to make a 4th July Ribbon Wreath, I am quite excited about it and Kenz is too since she can assist with this.  I also need to find time to study for my test that I take in a 2 weeks.  I can't get myself motivated even tough I know this would be a huge stress reliever if I could pass this and not have to take the class. 

But to de-stress from all this kaos we have had going on, we are headed to the water park and catch a few rays of sunshine, that decided to come out today.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Stressed to the Max!

Do you ever have the urge to just go to a top of hill and scream as loud as you can for 10 secounds and let it all out?  Well I could do that this very moment but 10 secounds wouldn't be long enough for me.

How do you single parents keep your head up all the time?  I try and most of the time I suceed but here lately, I havn't.  I fell like I am slowly starting to crumble.  I have seen a side of myself that I am not happy with.  I am like a monster, even if I try to put a smile on my face, you totally see that it is fake.  My poor boyfriend doesn't know what to think, and I don't know what to think because it's not me.

I know it is from my 1.5 hrs of sleep that I had on Monday and Wednesday after working all night, but when my lil' princess gets up, I have to get up and we are going to have a fun filled day even if I havn't had enough sleep.  I have to do this to get in a routine to help me stay up when I start school in Aug, and I am afraid this isn't going to go over well.

I am stressed just thinking about it, it is my dream to go back to school and get my RN, so I can have my dream job and better stability for my daughter and me.  But I find myself asking is it worth it, because I don't like this monster side of me and no one else does either.  I knew I would be irritable, but I didn't think I would be this bad.

So I find myself asking if this is going to be worth it and I would say yes, but seeing this side of myself it's not.  Then I have been told never just settle and i fill like if I don't do this I am just settling, I may never have the opportunity to go back to school.  But I'm not in debt now and I  will be when I go to school.  But if I wasn't going to school, I would buy a house because I hate paying money on rent, so I would be in debt once again. 

Is anyone else in the same situation and how do you deal, and what should I do.  I would love to her some advice or at least know I am not the only one feeling this way.

Applique Onsies for my friend

Hope everyone had a great weekend, mine on the other hand was CRAZY and involved lost sleep and lots of cleaning..on the other hand I survived and still breathing.  Hopefully we can keep our plans for the rest of the week, which includes pool time and a trip to the zoo with a friend of mine.

Kenzie had a big weekend, going to a summer party with one of my friends daughter that lives 2 hrs away.  I had to miss it since it was when I had to be at work.  But I found out my friend is having a little baby boy.  So with my new fabric that I recently purchased, I couldn't resist not to make a few applique onsies, I would've made more if time permit.  But they were too cute, and I was excited at how they turned out.
Hope everyone has had a good Monday.  Me and Kenzie are off for an adventure walk.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Dry Shampoo

I am pretty sure one of my favorite inventions yet is dry shampoo.  This is because after a long night of work, little sleep, and wanting to spend some Kenzie time, all you have to do i spray it on rub it in and TADA...you have clean hair.  Yep this is so very helpful even after a long rough hour at the gym and you got that sweaty nappy hair look and have to run to the grocery store..it works wonders. 

So I am a little tired from work and not enough sleep, but hope everyone is enjoying there weekend.  I on the other hand have enjoyed having Kenzie time and sad that I must return to work for another long night.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Twirl Skirt for my lil Princess

Do you remember seeing this little ice cream face before..isn't she adoarable.  She also requested that I make her another skirt and so I had this cute fruit material..which seemed perfect for a sweet summer treat.  I had some fabric left over and made her a money pouch to put her ice cream money in.  She was one happy camper.

We made a trip to Hancock Fabrics yesterday, and I could live there.  I just love every piece of fabric and have all kinds of ideas that run through my head on what I could do with that particualr fabric.  Do you do the same?  I am secretly in love with fabric, I am growing a big collection, but I have enough to keep me busy.

So what do you plan on sewing this summer, please use your ideas with me, it may be something to spark me to make.   Hope the weekend goes well, it is work for me tonight..so see ya Monday :)

Friday, June 10, 2011

Velcro Pouches!

People at work have finally been seeing some of my sewing projects I have been working on, since I found my new calling.  I would love to be able to open a shop one day, I just feel that I am not as experienced as some people are, but with that being said, I had a request.  This lady not only requested one but 3 pouches with a arm band for her granddaughters and instead of having a zipper she requested it to be Velcro.  So I was a little stranded on that since i had never sewn with Velcro, but once again I did figure it out and sliced my finger open in the process. OUCH!  So I hope these little granddaughters will be very happy with there new Velcro pouches.  They did turn out very cute(so I think)
And miss Princess and I are marking stuff off our summer list left and right.  We signed her up for the summer reading program, as well as went to the bookstore and bought some books for her and me.(Mine isn't pleasure reading, bummer it's a study guide for a class I am trying to clep out of in nursing school.  Hope I pass.)  We have been on our daily walks, and went to the water park already and have plans on going Monday with some friends.  Tonight we are going to Chaney's milk barn for ice cream and a movie :)

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Who want to know more about Me cont.

This blogging thing is a lot harder than I thought it would be...I have had one comment...I know I am just getting started and I have a lot to learn, but I have so much I want to talk about.  So bare with me as I find out how all this works.  Until then here is some facts about me.
My name is Abby
I am a single parent to an adorable lil' Princess Mckenzie Faith ( she is my pride and joy and love her more than words can describe.  I hate more than ever that she has had to grow up in a separated family world, but you can not make things work if it wasn't meant to be.)
Some you may be asking, wow she looks too young to be a mother.  Yes I was 18 when I had my lil' Princess, I am now 25.  It hasn't been an easy road, and I have had a lot of people turn their heads at this, but I have made something of myself, I have went to college and earned a degree, I have lived on my own since my Princess was 1, and have not had any help with my bills, and to me that will mean a lot to my lil' Princess when she gets older. 
I do have  boyfriend and no we do not live together.  I vowed to never live with another man until I married..which I don't think will ever happen.  But I am okay with that I am happy as ever with Mr. Brian.  I  could not ask for anything more..he makes my world complete.
I recently received a sewing machine for Christmas(yes I asked for it) and I love it. I love reading other peoples crafting blogs to inspired me, which I hope to include some of my homemade goodies on here shortly.
I did make it through college and graduated..as being a young single mommy, I was told I would NOT be able to do this, but I DID.  It wasn't an easy journey but I did it all for her.
And yes I am going back to school, and I can call myself crazy but I have always wanted to be a nurse and I am, and I think I am good at what I do but I want to know more and be a RN so I can do one of my dream jobs...work in the ER or labor and delivery.  or I may just stay at the nursing home, I have become so attacthed to my residents, they are like family to me.
I have to HAVE ME time almost daily, and sometime a weekend of it is good.  You see my me time keeps me calm, cool,  and collective.  I find motherhood to be so stressful at times and even so more when the father isn't always present in my lil Princess's life.  He has chose a career where he works out of state and isn't able to come home very often.  My lil' Princess goes months on end without seeing her father and then he will pop in.  I struggle with this because she never talks about this situation, but I know it is HARD on her to wonder why her daddy pops in every so often and calls just a very few times, but he is doing it to help provide for her.(even tough he gets behind almost always)  This is where my selfishness comes into play as well, I always have her to myself and when he does come home I have to share, and its hard to depart my lil' dear Princess.  But with all this being time I use my me time usually at the gym while she goes to play land and plays with other kids for an hour, and everyone once in awhile I will go on a little road trip with my boyfriend or girlfriends.  Some people ask me how I can leave or I am not a good mother, but in my eyes I do the best I can do and I DESERVE a vacation from time to time. Don't you think.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE summertime I am so much more happier, because I am not stuck inside hibernating.  Me and cold weather do not mix at all.
So there you have it a little about me, please leave comments and let me know anything you would like to know.  I look forward to making new friends and sharing stories of our crazy life. :)

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Who wants to know more about ME?

Let's play a game, so that you can get to know me much better.  I want you to ask me questions that you would like to know about me.  I know there should be many since I am very new at this and not a lot about me.  But I need YOUR help on this...so comment away and I will answer your questions. 

So while you are leaving me questions to answer to get to know me better...I will be slaving away at work.  Have a great day!

Monday, June 6, 2011

Floating Down the River

I am back..yah..after a long weekend of work I am worn out, between catching some Zs and spending time with Kenz all before going back into work gets sorta tired...and I know it will be even worse when I go back to school. 

With a kiddo out for the summer and the boyfriend actually having a day off the same as me, I was super excited..what better way to spend the day floating down the river in our Kayaks.  It was so peaceful and relaxing, and a beautiful sun shinny day. 

 I have vowed that Kenzie will not have a boring summer, and so far we are starting off on a good start...I may get closer to disconnecting the cable if we stay outdoors like we have been.  I've been thinking about this for awhile.  Not that my child watches a whole lot of TV but it is very distracting and there is so much fun stuff we miss out on when we are glued to the tv at time.  What are you opinions on this?  What do you and your kiddos/boyfriend/husband/wife do for fun in the summer?

Kenz is on her secound wind,  so we are off to enjoy an adventure walk tonight.  Enjoy the rest of your day.


Ice cream face :)

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Ice cream, Ice Cream, We all Scream for Ice Cream!

Bruster's was a success, it only took Kenzie 2.5 seconds to drop her ice cream, so we had to get another scoop.  I have picture but have not had time to upload them, I will get to that Monday or later.  We have been lazy today, VERY lazy...which is always on Saturday and Sundays and Tuesdays.  That is because  I am not an not owl and I require sleep, and I work night shift weekends with a Tuesday thrown in there. 

I hate my hours, but love my job.  I had day shift and it was perfect, had my 12 hr shifts that I worked and my 4 days off, and two included being off with my boyfriend.  But I had this position offered to me and I had to take it. 

I am going back to nursing school in the fall and this works with my school so much better except the fact that on Mondays I have school all day, I will be up for close to 24 hrs and I am so nervous that I am not going to be able to do this.  But I have been told you  can do anything you want to do. 

So do any of you have this same type schedule as me?  and how do you do it?  I worked full time when I was in LPN school but I worked 8 hr shifts, so I had a little bit more sleep time.  Any suggestions or ideas will be great.  I have also not lined a babysitter up this summer hoping that will help me stay up due to Kenz get up around 7 or 8..just so happens be the time that I get off and doesn't take a nap.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Schools Out for the Summer!

Today is Kenzie's last day of Kindergarten, then she will be in 1st grade.  I still cannot believe how fast she is growing up on me.  So speaking of kindergarten graduation.  This is my lil graduate.


This is me and my lil' girl.  Of course she had  other people that love her dearly to come watch her graduate and we both were excited to have them her at this exciting moment.  Unfortunately the boyfriend had to work, but we are going for an ice cream date tonight to celebrate.  We are excited about this treat.

I'm so excited about this summer.  I have lots of plans for her.  I am in the process of making a jar of fun summer activities to do very day.  Here is a list of things I have in mind:
  1. Go to the Zoo
  2. Weekend trip getaway
  3. participate in the summer reading program at the library
  4. Movie at Chaney's milk barn while eating their ice cream YUM
  5. Water park - kenz loves doing this
  6. daily adventure walks
  7. Send cards to family members-this will help with her neatness in writing
  8. make sidewalk chalk
  9. make homemade ice cream
  10. camp out in the back yard
  11. Catch lightning bugs
  12. make a pillowcase or tooth fairy pillow-its about time her lil teeth come out
  13. play in water puddles in a zebra rain boots
  14. go to the beach-to bad the closest beach is 8 hrs away
  15. play in a sprinkler
  16. make homemade water sponges
  17. Have a picnic
  18. Go for a hike
  19. Play flashlight tag
  20. Have a cookout
  21. take a cave tour at Mammoth Cave
  22. No TV Day
There you have it, I may have more to add on later.  I also plan on making a check off list with our Things to Do or getting a jar and let her draw from it to pick an activity.  What are you doing this summer to entertain your kiddos?

Thursday, June 2, 2011

New to the blogging world.

I am proud to say, I can mark this off my to do list, creating a blog.  I am new to this so please bare with me, but I hope I can make somone laugh or inspire or encourage somone from my day to day post that I will try to be loyal to.  So a little about me:
My name is Abby Anderson, I live in a Barren Co, full of hills and county roads.  I just got old and turned 25,(and yes I love watching the news and drinking my morning coffee)I am a LPN and work at a nursing home, my residents are my pride and joy, I know when I am having a bad and I go into work, they can put a smile on my face. Each and every one of my residents have a little piece of my heart , and have taught me many lessons.  My other pride and joy is my lil' Princess., her name is Mckenze Faith.well she isn't little anymore..my baby graduated Kindergarden today(she will always be my baby)  It's amazing how time flies.  I am so proud of her, she has came a long way since the beginning of the year.  My lil princess has the hugest heart of any kid I know, she is caring, VERY lovable, and did I mention has more energy than the energizer bunny.  This kid doesn't stop for a second, she is always on the go, and at times we have issues on this, but I am working hard on this with her and has seen an improvement.  Last but not least, is my wonderful boyfriend.  We have been together for a little over 2 years and I dunno what I would do without him.  He has brought so much happiness in my life, we have the perfect relationship.  He is laid back and easy to talk to, and I still get butterflies in my stomach when we kiss just like the first time.  I love him and Kenzie to the moon and back.  In my free time I love going to the gym for me time, and at night I enjoy watching the news and sewing.  I asked for a sewing machine for Christmas hoping to bring my craftiness out that has been hiding for 25 yrs, and well it worked, and did I mention it is a stress reliever?  So that is me I hope you enjoy my blog and leave me comments on topics I should cover or something I should do different.