It's My Birthday....

...And I'll D.I.Y if I want to!

(Okay, it is 12:36 am after a few months of not going to sleep before 5 am...bear with the corny headline!)

***Photo courtesy of Polka Dots and Pirates. Go visit my new pal Jess in her AWESOME Etsy shop...WARNING...you will go crazy over all of her insane birthday party must-haves...don't you need a birthday banner to match your bib from *golden*? :) ***

Yep! It's my birthday! And it better be a good one...It is the LAST one before the big number 3 comes creeping up on me! Haha...maybe it is just me but I am kinda wishing I was out of the 20's at this point...it doesn't help that I am the always the youngest in all of my mommy and me classes, my hubby is 12 (yep, I said it, TWELVE) years older than me, and when I am out with my stepsons and daughter people tell me what a great Nanny I am and that the kids are so lucky to have me. Um, yeah, NOT the nanny...although, that is the story my husband gives everyone!

Anyway, enough about me, let's talk about ME! (It IS my birthday!). Here is what I have learned this past year:

1) Not to be afraid to follow my dreams. i would have NEVER EVER thought I would be here today, with an etsy shop, actually making money doing what I love! You know that lame advice that people give when you are searching for a job? The "Do what you love and it will never feel like a job" crap that you want to rip out of the speech balloon floating in the air that has just left their lips and stomp on it with your knock-off shoes which are all that you can afford because you were laid off while 5 months pregnant and are now a stay at home mom with one income that doesn't give you even a one-hundredth of what you were used to having to spend every month? Yeah, that advice. Well, I take it all back - it IS true! There are days that I can't wait to get to the sewing machine and hope that Kylie takes a longer nap that usual so I can keep going! This new "job" has done so many things for me, but most of all, have allowed me to continue to stay at home with the (second) love of my life, my adorable nutball of a daughter!

2) To whisper to my daughter at bedtime every night. No matter what type of day we have had, whether it was all smiles and cuddles or my losing my temper and telling Kylie that we are NO LONGER drinking juice boxes on the couch with NO diaper on and while holding an open face peanut butter and jelly sandwich (all of which were my idea, but I don't need to admit that, right?), the nighttime whispers make it all go back to perfect. Hearing her little whisper answer of "Yeah" when I ask if she had a fun day or if she wants to go to Disneyland next week, etc. just melts my heart. Period.

3) Sit and watch my little girl for 5 minutes everyday. I realized a few months back that before Kylie, there were days that were good, but that I went through so many days, even good ones, where I never laughed out loud or smiled so huge it hurt. Just watching Ky for a few minutes everyday accomplishes both of those tasks. It makes me wonder how I was ever happy before she was in my life!

4) Say "Thank You" to my husband at least once a day. For all the jokes and jabs I give him, he does so much for our family. He works 20 hours a day in order to allow me to stay home with our little princess, something I could never replace. So I say I learned this, but I am not so good at DOING this...hmmm, sounds like a goal for next year!

5) To be a strong woman. My mother told me that once you become a mom you have to "stop crying" (yeah, I am a crier) and stand up for what you believe in, especially in situations involving my daughter. She was so right. I have overcome so many fears and insecurities and have become so much stronger as a result.

6) I CAN do this thing called Mommy, and can do it pretty damn well! (If I must say so myself).

7) Make your friends your family. They are the ones that live only 5 minutes away and are most likely the first ones you would call in case of an emergency over out of town REAL family.

8) To never complain that I am lonely or bored. HA! I miss those days! :)

9) Just ask, you will be surprised that the answer isn't always "No"!

10) Lastly, I have learned to TRY to live in the moment...still working on it, but getting better. Kylie will never be this adorable again, my life will never be this crazy again, and I will never be this same person again.

Well, if you are still reading this post and have gotten this far you deserve a reward!!! I mean it!

For my birthday I am offering a super sweet (hopefully as sweet as the Costco cake I begged my hubby for, even though it is crazy huge and I only want to eat the frosting off of it which makes it SO not worth the money) deal...starting NOW and going through Sunday, September 7 at 11:59 sharp I am offering $2.90 off each item in my shop! That's 10 cents for every year I have been alive, haha! Just be sure to wish me a Happy Birthday in your "notes to seller" box at checkout. (Can I get any more vain? I am basically personally requesting birthday wishes! But, like I said, it IS my birthday, I am allowed to do whatever I want! :) ). I will send you an updated invoice that reflects your new prices!

Okay, so what are you still doing here reading my boring and VERY poorly updated blog? Go buy something already!! :)

Meanwhile, I will be here working on next year's goals...penning my next novel, finding a cure for cancer, and training for the Iron Man. Yep, it's my birthday and I'll LIE if I want to! :)