Immitation is weak. Be yourself.

"imitation is the sincerest form of flattery"

Do you believe that?! I'm not sure I do. I hate to be copied, ABSOLUTELY hate it!
It's my biggest pet peeve and annoyance! Stupid, I know...but we all have our issues and problems with the world.

I've felt like this since I was little. I mean I remember my mom friends copying her whether it was buying the clothes my mom had or decorating or painting the same wall color as my moms..I got sooo annoyed and frustrated with my moms friends and I would actually ask my mom if it bothered her, because if it didn't I wanted to stand up for her and tell her friends to STOP! It made me soooo upset. I always looked up to my mom, she is unique, I liked the way she did things different from all the other moms...my mom was cool, she was a very young mom. And I hated how someone tried to be like her. Weird, yeah I know..like really weird! LOL.

ANYWAYS, so that annoyance has stuck around and has really developed. Ughhhhh, I wish I didn't have this "problem." I wish that I could take it as a compliment when someone admires something I have or do and wants to do it too but I can't! It drives me crazy, I like to be different. I strive to be different, I try very hard at it. I like my creativity and how I'm able to put things together and think things up that a lot of people can't. And then..when they do the same thing I just did...UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. I get sooooo peeved, I try to control myself and not blurt out how pissed off I am that they would follow me and do the same thing but it's hard to contain. I guess it'd be different if they gave me credit for MY ideas but it's almost like they try to keep it secretive in hopes that I'll never find out.

I know most of you reading are like "Are you serious?" LOL...but yes, this whole imitating thing is really getting to me, to the point where I don't even want to discuss my life with others because I don't want them snatching my ideas.
I've really made some of my friends upset because I've kind of told them off and questioned why they need to copy but am I wrong for doing that?!
I mean, seriously...does everyone copy everyone? Is it normal?! Am I just messed up and have this huge problem that I need help for?! hahaha...I mean I can make a big list of friends and things they have really copied me in, like things that are wayyy too obvious.

Okay, another thing I want to get across to my readers...I know I am nothing special, not everyone wants my ideas, and yes sometimes I copy too, but petty things but this is something that's been bothering me and this is MY online journal and I am going to write and vent what I want, like I say..if you don't agree with my opinionated self and don't care to hear about me whining..then get the F off my blog! Seriously. Thanks.

I don't mean to offend anyone, really I don't, I hate to sound so harsh as I have in this post but seriously people...lay off of me and my ideas when it comes to buying the same furniture I have, buying the same make, model, and color of vehicle I have, don't be a Rag doll for Halloween the year after I did, don't take my baby names, don't do your daughter's room with the same decor I did for my daughter, I don't want to see that you just got the same EXACT tattoo I have....I mean, really?! Seriously?! How low do you have to go?! Does it make you feel better?! Sorry, enough with this...I really just needed to vent, please don't judge me in thinking I am this horrible bitch of a person who thinks everyone wants to be like me...because I know it's wayyyy totally far from that...but please just think before you go and take some one's ideas. Be yourself. Imitation is weak. Confidence and uniqueness is beautiful.

I love you all, really I do. I just have this obnoxious annoyance. Please forgive me.

Tee Ball.

Dirt in the skirt, Tay! Dirt in the skirt!


..I'm a little late on this but Taylor started tee ball 2 weeks ago!
What a riot that was...watching 5 and 6 year olds trying to hit, run, and catch a ball is just HILARIOUS! Oh my goodness! I could not contain myself from laughter!
Piper just watched me like I was a loon! hahaha.

Tay can hit that ball like a pro..I mean once the ball hits the bat..it's LOUD! She's got a good arm, she throws sooooo well too! All the practicing with daddy!
However, the girl can NOT catch, nor does she want to run and chase/catch the ball..like she's afraid of it or something! LOL.

Five Question Friday!

Ahhhhh. Thank goodness for the weekend! I have been going crazy this past week, more so with Taylor...I feel sooo bad for saying it but that girl is too much for me to handle sometimes, I know she's only 5, well almost 6 BUT I swear she's got ADHD. Like seriously, my mom says it's just a phase she's in at the moment...but I beg to differ. I just need to get her out of the house more! ha.
JJ just laughs at me and rolls his eyes..then makes a comment about me wanting another one! Well, yes I do! I just don't feel complete with two...ANYWAYS enough with that, now onto the questions! :P

I'm excited for this weekend...a parade, and a city wide garage sale!!!! My favorite!! yayyyyyy! :o)


1. Do you know how to play a musical instrument? The piano, that's it. And not too well either. Just a couple songs.


2. What is your pet peeve while driving? Ughhhhhh. I hate people that don't signal, it's almost always because they're on their cell. I hate when people don't merge over to the left lane when I'm trying to get onto the freeway. I absolutely hate slow drivers, like 15 mph in a 30mph zone is unessasry, get off the road! I get extremely annoyed with people's driving. Road rage?! YES, MAJOR!


3. Would you rather have a housekeeper or unlimited spa services? Oh, toughie!! Seriously...IDK! I would be sooooo grateful for a housekeeper but I guess I would chose to have unlimited spa services, it would be pretty nice!


4. Is there a song that you hear that will take you back to the moment, like a junior high or high school dance? There's sooooo many songs I hear that bring back memories at a certain time of my life when I was dating someone else or a school dance, or crusing the strips every weekend, me and JJ's first song together, I have songs dedicated to my girls, there's just soooo many songs out there and soooo many memories to match them with!
*UB40-"Falling in love with you" Me and JJ's song
*Tamia/Fabulous-"So into you" Me and JJ's song
*Jack Johnson-"Taylor" Taylor's song
*Dixie Chicks-"lullaby" Piper's song


5. What song best represents your life right now? Hhhmmm..I don't know how to explain my life with a song, sounds silly but how do you match a song with your life?! Does that mean my life is too complicated?! ha.

Busy bee.

“Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans”



Whoa. It's been over a week since I've made a post. We have been wayyy too busy around here, my finals were last weekend, which was chaotic to say the least!
However, I am happy to announce my final grades for the two classes...an A & and B+!
I am soooo proud of myself for those grades and hoping it will continue the rest of my school year! June 17, 2012 can't come soon enough!!

We also had a garage sale last weekend, the whole weekend...which was crazy! I could have just handled Friday and Saturday but since my MIL is the one who set it all up at her place, she thought it'd be good to have it on Sunday too, which I thought was a bit silly considering our sale was the only one in the paper that day, PLUS it was Father's Day..but whatever! Overall it went good...I made some good money!

We totally re did our house and organized EVERYTHING! It's soooo well organized and clean...I love it! It took about 4 days to accomplish the disaster, ha!
We have soooooo much stuff, mostly just clothes..I've said it before...but we seriously, as a family have the most clothes you would ever see in an average family's home, LOL. Coming from two parents who were voted the best dressed our senior year, of course our girls are going to have an overwhelming amount of clothes...but lately I've learned to settle down and cutback on shopping for clothes, they outgrow them soooo fast, plus they're both sooo hard on their clothes..that I'm better off just buying their clothes from Target and Walmart until they're old enough to appreciate them more! ha.

Plus with Taylor being out of school for the summer I am a lot more busier with trying to keep two kids entertained and occupied and making sure we're keeping up with Taylor on her schooling..making sure she doesn't lose any information she gained in kindergarten and also helping her learn new things is important and I want to make sure she continues to succeed!


Ughhhhh, so anyways that is what we've been up to the last week, or me at least...I have not had a break yet, I'll get about a 9 day break before we head off to our vacation on the 1st!

Hope you all are enjoying your summer! It seems like it's going by sooo fast already! :(

Graduation time.

On Saturday we had my cousin Jordan's graduation party. I just can't believe how old my sisters and cousins are getting, I feel sooooo old. I mean it was already 6 years ago since I graduated. SAD.


Auntie Tessa and Piper.


Sissies.








My sister and I.














My mom and the girls.


My grandma and the girls.

Did you know!?

A- My AIR CONDITIONER is set on: 72.

B- My BEDROOM theme is: jungle theme..I hate it, we've had the same theme for 5 yrs. it's dated and trendy. It's the least focused room.

C- The CAR in the driveway is: a Dodge Durango.

D- My DESK looks: a mess! Cups from my numerous beverages throughout the day and papers from me doodling and writing out my lists.

E- The EXACT time I wake up daily is: 6:30am..well it was..now school is out, so we shall sleep in!

F- The FIRST thing I wash in the shower is: my hair.

G- My GARAGE is filled with: TONS of boxes and bins full of jackets, shoes, and clothes we don't fit into or wear anymore. Garage sale this weekend, thank God!!!!!!

H- My HOME is: happy, cute, and comfy.

I- If you peeked INSIDE my bedroom you'd see: clothes piles stacked throughout..I am not exaggerating when I say our family most likely has the most clothes you've seen a family have! Seriously, it's ridiculous.

J- My favorite JUICE is: apple.

K- The best part of my KITCHEN is: my kitchen table, I love it.

L- The LAST person who visited my home was: Melissa.

M- The last piece of MAIL for me was: a letter from school saying I owe a lot of money already, bastards.

N- My NEIGHBORS think I'm: the sweetest person ever, haha...I find that hilarious!

O- If you OPENED my fridge you'd see: a little of everything....heck, there's probably non food items that shouldn't even be in there...who knows, the joys of a toddler and knowing how to open a fridge!

P- My last house PARTY was: a poker party a few weeks ago.

Q- A QUICK meal I like to fix is: taco's..I think that's the fastest meal.

R- My favorite ROOM of the house is: living room

S- The SHAMPOO brand I use is: I switch it up all the time and have 3 or 4 different brands in the shower currently..

T- My largest TELEVISION is: I think ours is a 55". It's big.

U- UNDER my bed you will find: Some expensive sports memorabilia of JJ's.

V- The last time I VACUUMED was: yesterday.

W- Looking out my WINDOW I see: My blinds are shut, it's dark out.

X- I wish I had X-TRA: money. There is sooooo much I want and need at the moment.

Y- My YARD is: in dire need of mowing.

Z- ZZZZZZZ My bedtime is: wayyyy past.

Eyebrows.

Beauty is the promise of happiness.


I went and got my hair done and my eyebrows waxed today.
I was in a major hurry and only had an hour to get beautified before heading out for a graduation party so I just planned on getting my hair trimmed and then my eyebrows quick.

Well, there was a new lady working in the salon today, I was a little hesitant because I figured she probably just graduated from cosmetology school and didn't have a whole lot of floor experience...IDK, I just judge and assume things like that!

But my assumptions are known to be totally off and this sure proved me wrong!
This lady, Chely, not sure how to pronounce it, it could be a couple different pronunciations...ANYWAYS, after 20 something years of getting my haircut and eyebrows done for like the last 10 years, this is seriously the BEST I have ever seen my hair style and my eyebrows, more so my eyebrows, I love them!

Okay, I know most of you probably just pluck out a few hairs from your brows and a lot of you may not even have to wax or pluck, I envy you!

But I have the worst eyebrows EVER, they are so dark, course, and hard to maintain.
It's really hard for me to keep up with my eyebrows because they grow soooooooo fast and the plucking HURTS!

Well, anyways, this lady, Chely did an amazing job on my eyebrows, they have definition, like an arch...they use to be just a patch of bushy hair above my eyes but now they look glamorous, like Fergie's!

I got to thinking, I've never had a darker person as myself or a person of a different race work on my hair and eyebrows, but Chely is Hispanic, so it's like she understood and knew best how to handle my eyebrows...haha, sounds silly but my brows are soooo different from someone with light hair.

Enough with that rambo jumbo, I'll show you the before and after!

Five Question Friday!

...Good Friday to you!
We have such a busy weekend ahead of us..graduation parties, bday party, poker party, and whatever else we can fit in between! I like being on the go tho, I won't complain! :o)

Here are the questions:

1. What do you think makes a good friend, or friendship? Good question. Someone who listens and talks about things without judging, loves you for who you are and what you believe in, can keep secrets, someone I can call up at 4am to talk about issues and whatever is on my mind, someone who calls/texts just to say hi and that I miss you, someone who has respect for me and my family, being good to my kids is important, back each other up and have each others backs in a disagreement...the list can go on..basically it's all about love, trust, and honesty.


2. What is the last thing you bought & later regretted? ha. I'll write a blog about that this weekend if I have time...stay tuned!


3. Have you ever had a prank played on you? Hhmmm..most likely but I can't remember anything at the moment.


4. What is your favorite theme park? I'm not much of a theme park person, I'm such a wuss when it comes to rides, although I'll go on them, I hate them!
I liked Disneyworld and six flags..they have a lot to offer, although I'm not too fond of any of it!
We do have a nice theme park here in MN...Valleyfair is pretty nice.


5. Have you ever seen someone else give birth? No, just on TV.
I would LOVE and feel honored to be asked to witness one of my friends labor! I'd be a very good support coach, just in case anyone is reading this! ;)

My house is far from baby proof..

..If you remember this post http://tortalinixoxo.blogspot.com/2010/03/my-little-find.html or if you're a new follower check it out, these terrarium's are too cute!
They add a cute earthy green touch to any room!

Well..earlier tonight Piper was banging around the TV remote on the end table, where my precious little terrarium sits..well she chucked that remote right into it, the glass shattered.......UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. I kept my cool and simply told her we don't through things and that made mommy sad, and gave her my pouty face to let her know mommy is very upset with her. My sweet baby girl is such a caring love bug who immediately gave me hugs and sugars, it really made the situation a lot better!
Hugs and sugars from my babies are wayyy better then any terrarium!

So..I gotta figure out how to remake this terrarium. I'm looking around my house for glass containers...and whatta know! My kitchen is full of that! My glass container, more like a lantern mason jar type thing that holds coffee and actually says coffee on it would be so cute so that's just what I did!

I did have to go outside and dig up some more rocks, dirt, and moss because the jar was bigger then the previous one...but it turned out pretty cute!
I'm gonna make a couple more different type ones for a few other rooms around the house!

Check it out..

Getting to know YOU!

Happy Sunday! I'm sad to see the weekend ending...it was such a wonderful one!
Anyways, here are the questions for this weeks getting to know you!

1. If a person has a booger in their nose. and you can see it, do you tell them?
Umm...if I know them yes otherwise that's just awkard telling someone something so gross and embarrassing! ha!

2. What are you passionate about? A lot of things:decorating, my children, my family, and kids in general..I love kids, especially ones that are in tough situations like in asbusive households or kids in Haiti...I just want to adopt all unforunate children!

3. How long have you been blogging? I've had a blog since like 2007 but I just started actually blogging like 10ish months ago, maybe.

4. What is your favorite "summer" drink? Iced tea, water, and margaritas.

5. What is your favorite type of music? Folk and rock and a little of everything else.

6. Something I do before I go to bed is......? It depends on the night! ;) haha..well usually it's brush my teeth, wash my face, and go potty.

7. My Summer vacation plans are...? There's no vacay this summer, unforunately...but we are making a few camping trips.

8. My favorite must have, can't live without, beauty product is? Hhhmm..tougie. I'd say anything for my lips, whether it be gloss, chapstick, or lipstick...I always need something on my lips!

Alright, heading to the in laws for supper!

Going by too fast..

A daughter is the happy memories of the past, the joyful moments of the present, and the hope and promise of the future.


..My oumpa loumpa is almost done with kindergarten..5 more days. It's bitter sweet.
Thinking about it makes me tear up, it really does. Going on to 1st grade, that just sounds sooo mature, now comes the homework and not everyday will just be fun like it was in kindergarten. She's really starting to blossom and learn sooo much about the world, it amazes me how much she knows for her age! It also saddens me that she won't have her teacher anymore, she has Mrs. Wahl...such a wonderful lady, the sweetest teacher ever, I don't think I ever had a teacher like her myself..JJ had her for kindergarten, which is pretty neat...and my youngest sister also had her.
It's going to be sad to say goodbye to her, even though she'll just be a classroom away from Tay! And who knows maybe Piper and any future kids we have will have her also! :o)
I am such a sap, I know. For me it's harder for kindergarten to be over with then it was sending her on the first day...is that normal?!

Well..I do have to say again how proud I am of Taylor...she really is a very intelligent and beautiful little girl and I am truly proud and blessed to be her mother...I have the two greatest little girls! I wouldn't mind adding another little girl to the mix! ;) But that's another post, pahahaha!

Here are just a few of the many art pieces Tay has done throughout the year:
The teacher put together a scrapbook of projects and pictures of Taylor..it is soooo cute!

Five Question Friday!

Is it seriously Friday?! Wow.I feel like it was JUST Memorial weekend...goodness, I'm getting old! 24 years old in a month, that makes me feel "older." I was just telling my mom it feels like I am aging and she isn't. She's only 41 and I swear it feels like she isn't getting older but I am! ha..which is fine I guess...anyways, enough with THAT! Sheesh.

Here are this weeks questions:

1. If you could go back to college would you change your major? Or, if you were to go to college right now...what major would you choose? I'm currently in college heading towards my bachelor's in health care management. What I really wanted to be going for was interior design but I just feel like schooling for that is a waste.


2. What do you love most about your home? I'm gonna say my decor...since we don't own this place, I don't exactly feel like it's home, it's not my home. But I do love my decor, I take great pride in that! ;)


3. What types of books do you like to read (if you like to read at all)? I enjoy medical/info/health books, Kevin Trudeau wrote some very informative books on health and what "they" don't want you to know. I also enjoy Kristin Hannah and Nicolas Sparks.



4. What is the grossest thing you've ever eaten? Ummm..pickled pig feet....*gagging**..I'm gonna stop there and head to the next question.


5. If you HAD to be a character on a TV show, whom would you be? Oh my goodness..there's sooooo many to chose from...let me see..I'd pick Mila Kunis, Jackie from "That 70's show." Why her?! She is totally my personality, well not totally because she gets to be kinda annoying..haha, well maybe I am but I sure don't think that of myself but she is also...ditsy, funny, boy crazy, spoiled...I was voted best dressed in high school and was Snow Queen..so was Jackie, I don't know..a little comparison...plus JJ thinks she's the hottest thing on earth, I wouldn't mind being considered that! ;) I love her exotic look...Ima try and go for that! :P

Adult Boutique

There has been a lot of controversy going on in our small town about the new Adult Boutique that has recently opened for business. I don't think most people were aware that this shop was coming to town...it was just a huge surprise when we saw the three, yes THREE huge signs for this Adult Boutique, The Lion's Den.

My opinion and thoughts on this...I am pro Lion's Den BUT I do have a concern like a lot of citizens in this town. I think the placement of the sign(that you see above in the picture, which is just one of the three signs)it's placed right in front of the Owatonna Family Restaurant and that is quite disturbing for people, especially the owners of the restaurant. I too would be mad if they placed their sign right below where my sign is to go. It also brings in some confusion..it almost looks as if the adult store has taken over the restaurant because of the sign.

There are people going around town in groups on both different sides of this debate with petitions...if they came to my door I would of course sign the petition to keep this boutique around because I really do think it's a good business to have, not because I am some sex freak or pervert, LOL...but it does offer a few jobs in our community.

I'm guessing the majority of people touring this store are young adults, ranging from 18-30 years old. And it's those who are older and the Bible roller's who are against this. They think it's evil. Which I just find funny..it's all related to sex, the way we were all brought to earth and honestly adding a few toys in the bedroom can better your marriage, having a good sex life is key and quite frankly after being with someone for 10+ years wouldn't you be interested in adding some spunk to the bedroom?! Maybe not. But if you have a problem with an adult store, which really is not that icky of a place considering the places I've seen around bigger cities, since our town is small the Lion's Den is not able to carry a lot of adult stuff, so some of the stuff in there is memorabilia stuff..Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, and Vikings stuff.

This whole situation was totally thrown out of proportion all in thanks to the owner of McDonald's, pretty much. Mr. Big Wig..aka Mr. Eiseman currently owns 5 McDonald's in our area, so he's doing pretty well. But apparently he thinks this adult store is going to hurt his business, ummmm...hello! Pretty sure you'll still serve your million hamburgers a day, unfortunately your company has made Americans addicted, addicted to something that's going to kill them. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in America. He thinks this sex store is going to cause sexual additions...being addicted to sex is wayyyy more healthier for the body then eating a Big Mac and fries.
He really didn't need to stick his nose into this business and I hope the council throws the books at him and tells him to suck it up because this boutique needs to stay put, I think they deserve a fair chance as a business..they are offering jobs for our community. I am sooo sick of seeing this debate in the paper everyday..just deal with it. It's here to stay.