Keeping It Real Friday

I was two hours late to work this morning.  Two!

Trey is serving as Dad for a Happening on the coast, so it is just me and Jones from last night until Sunday.

OK, that is not entirely true.  I am a baby and hate staying alone.  Laura spent the night with us last night and we are staying in Starkville for the remainder of the weekend.

Anyway. Not the point.  I was two hours late!

I knew I was going to be a touch late.  You can't drop Jones off at school until 7:30.  I normally leave for work around 7:15-7:20 to get to my office by 8:00. 

What I didn't realize is that during my absence of taking Jones to school, he and Trey had develop some sort of routine in the mornings which includes taking a slooooow breakfast.  The kid just sat and looked at his breakfast. Then he would take a bite.  Say something.  Talk to Sophie. Sing a song. Demand to watch Winnie the Pooh.  Sing another song.  Take another bite. I should have woken him up at 6!

I finally drop him off close to 8, drive to Starkville, drop Laura off at her house and get to my office at 8:45.  Not bad.

But then I had a fear.  I just knew I had left the oven on broil.  I could think about anything else.  So after 10 minutes of being at work, I drove back to Columbus only to find that no, the oven was not on.  I am just losing it. To make the trip worth it, I had a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios. Then it was back to Starkville.  I was in my office a little after 10.

Good thing I love my co-workers and they love me.

Are you losing it? Is it just me? It is a wonder I am able to function enough to meet deadlines at work. I would blame this on pregnancy, but I never really got it all together after Jones was born.  If he took half my brain, then this baby is sure to take the other half.  You do the math.

In other real news, this is what Jones calls me now:

He is saying Heather, in case you can't understand Jones talk.

And finally,  hooray for USA! I was so proud of Gabby.  She is like a mini-super -smiley-person and I want to just put her in my pocket.  Did you watch? I love her.

Happy weekend, folks!

Keeping it real Friday

A couple of random but very real thoughts this glorious day:

Let's all pretend this is my current location.

1.  I had a million of boring errands to run during lunch today. Some were rather timely:  pick up my skirt from the cleaners that I need for a business trip on Monday morning, turning off our electricity and gas at our current home for our pending move and maybe pick up something to actually eat during said lunch break.
   Yet somehow I ended up at the nail place and not doing any of the above.
   I figured getting a pedicure was both better than lunch and cheaper than therapy.
   
   Which I may need because...
   
   
2.  The sell of our house in H'burg fell through.
   That bleepity-bleep house. I swear it's trying to kill me.
   Three years, people.
   We lived there THREE years ago. For a total of three months, for crying out loud.
   
   
3. A vacation would be just lovely.
   
   
4. The closer I get to my 9th move in 6 years (a fact I bring up a great deal against my sweet husband's liking. It's a fact that is both impressive and depressing to me.) the more excited I get. Future stability, you smell so sweet to me.
   
   
5. Jones' deep adoration of farm animals is at an all-time high. He has slept with farm puzzle pieces for the past three nights. He especially loves the moo-cow and horse. I will cry when he changes his current pronunciation of "heeeeee-orssse" to simply horse. It's so precious to my ears.
   
   Speaking of pronunciation ...
   
   
6.  Did anyone else watch the national spelling bee on ESPN? Because this girl did.
   At supper club last night our whole crew ended up cheering for Lena and Snigdha like it was the SEC championship. That's right.  We got wild at supper club.
   Those sweet word-loving kids. Bless them and the entertainment they provided.

My favorite contestant. Lena.

TGIF, readers, TGIF.

Keeping it real, ugh, Sunday.

Friday got away from me. But for good reason! I took off work so the three of us could have an extra long four day weekend. A little stay-cation, if you will.

And rule number one of any good stay-cation: little to no Internet time.

More on our little adventures this weekend coming soon, but for now let's get real.

It's Sunday morning and I am only one cup of coffee deep and blogging from my phone. Not that I spell correctly any other time, but thought I would throw out an excuse early in case this all goes bad.

Trey leaves for church by about 7:30 now and jones is still asleep (it's 8:15. Can I get an amen?) so I am sitting on my couch with my coffee in peace.

Well, as much peace as you can have looking at a completely chaotic house. I like order. And the older I get, I like peacefulness. Loudness stresses me out. Just call me Grammy. And, no, my house is not always peaceful. I have a two year old boy who seems to make it his life goal to be loud and make messes.

My sweet love.

When I look around, this is what I see: boxes and mess.

Moving has taken over. Again.

Can I be real for a second? One might think I would be totally used to this. I have done it, on average, three times a year since 2001. Remember?

Well, I am not. This move is different. And it has gotten me thinking. Will I make friends in new town? Seriously, how do military families do it? Particularly military wives? Share words of wisdom, please.

Moving is going to be in my future for as long as I can tell. It's the life we have chosen (or chosen us?). Maybe that's sinking in. I don't know. All I know is I want to bottle all my friends up and move them with me. Each time Will it be hard to form true friendships in my new town when I am commuting to a different one? What about treys job? Not exactly our age bracket. Will I know jones' friends parents? He will be in school at a different town than me. What will we do about couple friends?


Tell me you agree with me when I say it's hard to make good solid couple friends. People are busy. And in different life stages.

Just being real here. I hope to stay long enough to form some friends. True girlfriends and fun couple friends. And friends for Trey. And Jones.

Oh, dear. I can see I am stressing.

Going to get more coffee and not proofing this post.

Keep it real, folks!

Keeping it Friday

If I can't stay home and play with my child all day and then home school his pre-k and kindergarten years (after that, my math skills get shaky), then I might as well work for the greatest place on earth.

No, not Disney. That's the magical place.

And also, not Seaside. That's the for real greatest place.

I retract my earlier statement. It now reads: "I might as well work for the greatest higher education institution on earth".

I really like my job. Most days I can look past my hatred of sitting at a desk and focus on how lucky I am to be working here.

Today was Staff Appreciation Day. I spent the better part of two hours outside enjoying live music, photo booths, MSU ice cream, snow cones, lots of yummy food, and....wait for it.... A tattoo booth.

Who's the hottie in the middle?!

Yep. I got tatted. They assured me it can be easily removed with rubbing alcohol.

Wish me luck.

Great day. Great school. Great town. Great tat.

And now I get to enjoy a great weekend with my great husband and great kid.

I can just feel the greatness of it all.

Bottom line: I got to get a grip. I got to stop dwelling on things that are no longer. And I got to enjoy this place. Every. Single. Day.

And always, when given the chance, get a tattoo while at work.

Have a real great weekend.

Keeping it Real Friday - Mother's Day edition

I am not sure sure why I have been a touch more emotional this Mother's Day than the previous.  So fair warning that I have no idea how this post will turn out.  I am just writing.

When Jones was just a few days old, I celebrated my first Mother's Day.  Being a mom was so new to me (in ways, it is still so very new). I was just beginning to grasp the idea of motherhood.

 This was also my Nana's last Mother's Day with us.  My sweet, sweet Nana.

4 generations. Mother's Day 2010

Last year, my parents made the trip down to Gulfport to spend Mother's Day with us. 

And this year.  This glorious year.  2011 was not so great. For lack of better words, it sucked. (sorry, mama.  I know you hate that word.)

But 2012 -  Things are looking up in a major way. 

Trey is doing what he has been called to do his whole life.  And it is a beautiful thing to witness. We are happy and content and totally satisfied knowing God's purpose in our lives.

So maybe it is because this is the first holiday celebration since this new life, but for whatever reason, this Mother's Day approaching has made me sentimental, nostalgic, and ever grateful.

Sunday we will celebrate mothers. And I am feeling - now, perhaps more than ever - more thankful for my mom. 

Mother's Day 2011

My mom and my two grandmothers, one who is with us still and one who has already left this life: I can't thank them enough for showing what it means to love.  And for showing us what it means to be a mother. 

I can only hope I am half of the mom as those three women. 

From Jones - Mother's Day 2012

 And for this little man.  The reason I am a mama.
 Sweet love of my life. 

A lot of people in my life are struggling to have a baby.  And some have lost pregnancies.   I think about how I am quick to say I am ready for another baby, and how I often get impatient at the thought.  If only I would slow down more and appreciate the blessing I already have.  How precious is he. 

I will never again, I pray, take my mother for granted.  I only wish I could take back some of the ugliness in my life during a few teenage years.


If this past year has taught me one thing, it is this: love.

Show the ones you love that you love them.  And learn to love those who don't.

We get by with the help of those we love and who love us. Love can sustain us when there is nothing to offer and nothing to give. At the end of the day, regardless of where you are and what you have, if you have love you have everything. (sorry for the Hallmark-ness of it all)



I don't know about you, but I am going to spend this Mother's Day loving on my mama.  And my sweet baby.  And my sweet baby daddy. 

And I hope you spend yours loving on someone you love.  Regardless if you have a mom or not and regardless if you are a mother or not, I hope you feel loved this Mother's Day.

Keeping it real Friday

There is a good possibility that I am slowly (or perhaps not so slowly) losing my mind.

Play along with me and let's reenact just a few of my losing it moments this week.

1. We have a Volvo station wagon.  It is affectionately known as either the shaggin' waggin' or the sliver bullet - per the previous owner's (my BFF) request.  I like to think of it as the blessing car, but that is far too profound for this entry.
   
   Tuesday morning that silver bullet was my arch enemy.
   
   See, we only  have one key to said wagon.  And since Trey and I both drive it from time to time,  it does not live on either key chain.  It is just a lone key floating around in a sea of chaos. Looking back, I realize this is a recipe for disaster.
   
   I think you see where this is heading so let's just cut to the chase: I locked our only car key inside the car along with our only car seat.
   
   I first called work to tell them I would, again, be a touch late coming in. My mom, super woman if you will, came to take us to work and school with Henry's spare booster seat (don't call child services - I was desperate).
   
   One call to a locksmith, three hours and 60 bucks later, I had my key.  Geez that was an expensive mistake.
   
   
   
2. Last night I was heading to get groceries.  We have nothing to eat at our house. If my wife and mothering skills were judged solely on our fridge and pantry, I would fail.
   
   My mom mentioned she had clipped coupons for me and that they were waiting on her kitchen counter.  Nobody was home, but I could just let myself in using the keypad on the garage door. That keypad turned on me, I tell you. For the life of me I could not get the garage to open. I tried. I know I had the correct code.  I became angry.  I cried.  Apparently I really wanted those coupons.
   
   After ten minutes of failed attempts to open the garage door, I left my parents house....empty handed and full of tears.  FOR REAL.  Over coupons.  I went straight home and declared tonight was not grocery night.  Food and diapers can wait.  I needed 30 Rock and my bed.   I need  Tina Fey.
   
   
3. I show up this morning to drop Jones off at school with my camera in hand.  Muffins with Mom. How precious. I get to eat breakfast with my sweetie and his friends.  Jones and I talked about it the whole way to school "Mommy gets to eat muffins with you. Aren't we cute? This is what memories are made of, my dear child".
   
   I eagerly and happily show up to the cafeteria  ready to snap photos and get my muffin on. 
   
   Empty.  No one.  Me, Jones and the custodians.
   
   Because of course it makes sense to have Muffins with Mom to celebrate Mother's Day .... which is next week. 

I understand that after posting the overly sensitive, scatter-brain things I have done this week makes me sound a bit uterus-occupied.  I can assure you that is not the case.  No bun in the oven for this girl.  Just good ole' solid losing it.

TGIF.

Keeping it real Friday

Stomach bug - 1
Heather - 0

Trey had it Tuesday. Now it's my turn.

Praying Jones remains strong.

This is about all I can muster up to write.

I leave you with my view.

Saturday can only go up from here.

Keeping it Real Friday

Remember back in February when I posted about my meal planning?

(here: http://skaggsfamily.blogspot.com/2012/02/feb-meal-planning.html)

How cute of me. How put together I was.  You all must have been so impressed.

Here's a true fact (which, aren't all facts, by nature true? I still say "true fact" a good bit): I haven't "meal planned" since that day.

And I am fairly certain I haven't cooked a decent meal since then either.

Is it just me or does the spring suddenly explode with events and obligations? I am not necessarily complaining, it's just fact.

I have no time to cook. 

And, I just don't want to cook.

I am ever grateful for the longer days and a husband who likes to grill

Plus, we are doing good to have the three of us eating a meal at the same time.  Last night Jones had Annie's Mac-n-Cheese, roast beef, and strawberries.  Trey ate at the baseball game with friends.  And I had Special K. 

Sign me up for the Betty Crocker Award.

Side note: My mom actually won the Betty Crocker Award in high school.  Another true fact.  She is queen of all things domestic.  I have stopped trying to live up. 

I also can't sew.  And while we are at it, I am so far from crafty.

However, on Pinterest, I am a rock star.   Well-dressed, beautiful home, crafty and a gourmet cook.

I love my Pinterest self.

Happy Super Bulldog Weekend, y'all. And a very happy birthday to my Daddy!

.

Keeping it Real Friday

Did you miss me last Friday?

I was keeping it real, just not on the blog.

Here is a real picture taken last week, moments before I was late for work. Consider this last week's installment of KIRF.

For this week's keeping it real, I want to talk about the recent comment made towards Ann Romney by Hilary Rosen.


Don't worry, this has nothing to do with politics.


But I do have comments on her comment suggesting that being a full-time mom is not work at all. Although she apologized for her poorly chosen words, it was far too late to prevent lighting a fire in the ongoing faux battle between stay-at-home moms vs. working moms on this here Internet.

For what it's worth, here are my two cents:




I have been both. One was a decision made by choice, the other was a decision made out of necessity.




When I was pregnant, Trey and I weighed both options heavily before we decided that we would be able to make the necessary financial sacrifices in order for me to stay home with Jones from the beginning. He knew how important it was to me and, still to this day, I can't thank him enough for believing with me in that importance.

But let me state this first keeping it real fact: it was, indeed, a financial sacrifice. I don't care how much money you make or how much your spouse makes, eliminating one salary plus adding another (small and expensive) human into the equation requires some changes, be it big or small. We cut out unnecessary expenses and learned to live on less. Does this mean we went without? No. We were comfortable, happy and blessed. But it does mean that we didn't always have the latest and greatest thing and I became comfortable wearing last years trends. And I have since learned how to clip coupons.




But let's put finances aside, because let's be honest: that's not what her statement implied. I seriously doubt the Romney family sacrificed much in terms of finances. Sure, they would have been making even more money if she chose to work outside the home, but come on: he is a presidential candidate. Regardless of which side of the political fence you sit, if you are running, you have money. Lots of it.

I digress...

Being a full-time mom is hard. Very, very hard.

Leaving your child with someone else to work 8 hours outside of the home all while still being a mother is hard. Very, very hard.

In the beginning, when I was nursing all day, I thought I would surely die before I got the chance to shower again. I was scared to leave him alone for fear that, of course, he would not be able to go on living without me right beside him. So naturally I found myself more times than I would like to admit on the toilet while nursing an infant.

Keeping it real, people.

You are tired. There are no sick days. No vacation days. And there were days that I was jealous of Trey's lone car ride to work. He could sit in silence! No crying baby! No swollen breast from needing to nurse! And he gets to stop at a red light for more than two seconds without having a sleeping baby wake up screaming due to sudden lack of movement? The sheer luxury!

Then I would feel guilty for even thinking those things.

Which brings me to the next point: Guilt.

Mommy guilt is the real deal. I can't speak for other moms, but for this one: it is legit.

Being a full-time mom, I sometimes had guilt that I was not working. Working full-time now and I have guilt that I am not home. Guilt for thinking you need to work. Guilt for working. Guilt for wanting things. Guilt for not bringing in money. Guilt for letting your infant cry in the crib while you are face down crying from pure exhaustion. Guilt for not spending time with your husband. Guilt for not making time for your friends. Guilt for not sewing. Guilt for not cooking. Guilt for having to leave your child while you travel for work. Guilt for missing his party at school because of a work meeting. Guilt for sending your somewhat sick child to school because you have no leave time.

GUILT. GUILT. GUILT.

It is nasty.

I have been a full-time mommy and I have been a mom who works outside of the home full-time trying to also be a full-time mom. How can I ever say that I am not a full-time mom? No, I don't stay home with him anymore, but he is still my first and most important job and he is never far from my mind.

They are both hard. They both have their gives and takes. They both have their good days and they both have their days where I want to go to bed and never do this again. They both require a great deal of balance.

And this is coming from a mom with only one child.

Yet, I love it. I love being a mom. And, even though I still vaguely remember those sleepless nights the first few days (months...), I want to one day do it all over again. And I know, that if blessed with another, I may have to leave my next child earlier this time.

Someone who has never left their job and salary by choice to stay home with their child shouldn't be allowed to judge or even pretend to know what it is like to do so. It is hard work.

And someone who has had the privilege to stay home and never had to leave their child in the care of another shouldn't be allowed to judge or even pretend to know what that is like. It is hard work.

Both are wonderful at times. Both suck at times.

And I have never had to leave an infant with a caregiver, Jones was 18 months before I went back to work. So I must never pretend I know how hard that must be.

So let's please don't judge. Or make assumptions. Or feel guilty that we are not doing something right.

I don't know what the next mom's life is like and, although I keep it pretty real, you don't know everything about mine.

But I would like to think that all of us moms are just trying to do our best with what has been given to us. Make the best of what's around, you know?

And, finally, Happy Friday.



Hip Hip for the weekend!!

Keeping it real Fridays

I would like to provide a little insight, for those who may be unaware, of what eating out is like with a toddler.


Trey and I usually only brave Mexican restaurants with Jones. I think the reasons why are obvious.


Last night we went after work to grab a quick bite to eat.

To set the scene, Jones was in his "accident" clothes when Trey picked him up from school. And that was still what he was in when I met them for dinner. The shirt, a fine play shirt, has long sleeves and is a bit too snug. What you can't see are his pants. Blue jeans, which he has only worn twice in his life. The blue jeans that were in his extra clothes at school were, unbeknown st to me, way too small. And way too short. And apparently his socks were also wet from the accident, so he had on tube socks. With high water pants.

Trey saw no reason to change his clothes before we met for dinner.


A few of Jones' favorite activities at the fiesta:

- Taking chips out of the basket one by one and then putting the empty chip basket on his head declaring "hat!". then proceed to yell in a sing-songy voice "hat hat hat hat" over and over.


- Emptying out every last item of food we brought from home onto the table and floor. Each time one hit the floor he would shout "uh-oh" as if he were totally shocked food was emptying the container.



Trey's look throughout the meal:

We usually eat and clean up as quickly as possible before apologizing for the mess to the waitress and leaving a good tip.

Sweet boy. How life has changed. Would not trade it for the world.

Keepin' it Real Friday

A couple of real things on this glorious Friday: (aren't most Fridays glorious?)

1) I was thinking the other day how the season of life we are in right now is so very different from our previous seasons and how there are details in this particular season that we would have never chosen for ourselves. I was thinking about how things will be better "when" and "if" fill in the blank happens. I was thinking how much easier and better life will be when XYZ falls into place.

Then this morning while talking with Trey, it hit me. Every season in life is different from the previous one in some shape or form. And the only constant in life is change. So why am I not focusing on the right now. The fun, amazing, exciting parts AND the ugly parts of right now.

There are so many things that are happening in our life right now that may not be happening if certain circumstances brought to exactly right where we are.

I know that seems vague. One day I will explain everything in my best selling book. (I kid, I kid. Kinda)

I hope that whatever season you are going through right now that you will take time to enjoy it. If there are trials, they will eventually pass. If there are none for you now, the trials will, unfortunately, eventually come.

PS - image stolen from Jenni. Thanks! (http://mattandjennimurray.blogspot.com/)

2) My child looks like a frat boy. And it breaks my heart. His school has requested that he no longer wear one-pieces since they are potty training. I use that term lightly because other than that poo-poo on day 1, Jones has shown no interest in using the potty like a big boy.


At any rate, I do understand their need for ease in undressing toddlers. Also, my child is huge. I put him in a 2T jon-jon and his belly bulged, the buttons unsnapped in the crotch. He is tall. It may just be easier to go with shorts and a shirt.

But, people. Have you shopped for cute boy play clothes lately? I die. It is a disaster. Short of spending $50 per play outfit (which I will NOT do), I am out of luck. Apparently the clothing companies think I should dress my child in a graphic t with a dump truck on it that says "TOUGH LIKE DADDY".

Umm. no.

So, my child looked like a cross between a pro golfer and a frat boy this morning.

Cutie pie eating his banana before daycare. Or college. Either one:3) It's Friday, and I couldn't be more excited about not having plans this weekend. I like a simple life.

Happy weekend, friends!

Keepin' it real Friday

Happy Friday to you! I don't know about you but I, for one, am glad to see this day come. Onward to the weekend!

Today I want to keep it real by sharing some things with all you bloggers.

Before I was a mom, I had plenty of "I will never...", "my child will or will not..." blah, blah, blah.

Guess what? I am eating my words. Everyday. And that is ok. Jones is happy and healthy, and that is the most important thing, no?

Here are a few of my pre-mom crimes I have committed just in the past week:

1) My child will never ride in one of those disgusting cars/carts at the grocery store.
FALSE. My child will. And will love it. And I will be able to get in and out of the store without Jones having a giant-size toddler meltdown or me having to chase a very active boy around the store. Or both.



2) I will never. EVER. bribe my child. What parent would do that?

Pa-lease. This parent would. Just yesterday I used a juice box to coaxed Jones into getting in the stroller after work so I could go for a mini-jog. Worked like a charm and we were both happy. Win-win.

3)My child will love all vegetables and will happily eat whatever I lovingly prepare for the family.
What fantasy was I living in? First of all, I have yet to conquer this preparing a meal for our family gig. Now that I work, we are lucky to have a cooked meal two times a week. Secondly, my child hates all vegetables and meat. So guess what? He eats cheese, fruit and yogurt at almost every meal.

4)TV? Whatever. Not until he is at least 2, and even then no more than 15 minutes a day.
Trey leaves for work around 6:30. Which means I am left alone in the morning with Jones to get both of us ready for school and work. (Props to all of you single parents out there. You are my hero). We both need to be somewhat presentable and without tears (noticeable tears, at least) and out the door by 7:25. The TV has saved me many a times. I can either chase him around the house, scoop shoes and toys out of the toilet, come into the kitchen to find the pantry items covering the floor all while trying to clean my teeth OR I can put on a DVD and brush my teeth in peace.



5) I am not buying into all that cartoon character memorablia crap.
Jones has discovered Elmo. And there is no turning back. Give him his plush Elmo or give him death.

I read an article this week about pre-mom judging. I am guilty. I even was a stay-at-home mom judger (yes, it is a word. On this blog, at least) of working moms. Why would you put your kid in daycare?! Make sacrifices for the sake of your kids, people!! Sorry, moms out there. I was wrong.

We are all just doing our best in this scary thing. Nobody has it all together and we all feel like we totally suck at mothering at times. Good days/bad days. We all have them.

No judgement here, people. Do what works for you and let's all just be happy.

That's me keepin' it real today.

Check out the great article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kara-gebhart-uhl/mom-judgments_b_1319775.html

Here is a picture of us from last weekend. We went on a date! First to the symphony, then out for drinks and appetizers. Cute boy. I like him.

Keeping it Real Friday

Wednesday night was not our best night. Which led to Thursday not being our best morning. By the time I got to work, I was about 1.5 seconds from breaking down. Like, ugly tears breaking down.

Jones' teacher called around 9:30 and said that he just wasn't acting like himself. She said she didn't think he was sick, but wanted me to know that he wasn't playing or smiling.

We needed a day.

So I walked into my boss' office and told him I needed a personal day and, thankfully, he told me to go home and have a wonderful day. I have the perfect job.

I went home, changed clothes, went for a jog, then went to get my baby. Jones and I went straight to the park and played for two hours.

By nap time, we both felt like new people.

So, yeah, I skipped work to play with my child. It was both unexpected and totally necessary.

Keepin' it real Friday

My cute friend, Jenni at www.mattandjennimurray.blogspot.com, likes to keep it real on her blog on Fridays.

I like it, so I am copying.

I like to think I keep it real on here all the time, but just in case anybody out there thinks I have it all together, I am here to prove you wrong. There are many snapshots of my life I could have taken for today's installment of Keepin' it Real Fridays, but I narrowed it down to two.

Here is a picture of what my kitchen looked like when I finally woke up this morning after pressing the snooze button for thirty minutes:

Few things of note:
- The dishwasher is full and clean. And has been since yesterday morning. I just haven't unloaded it yet.
- There is a towel under said dishwasher because it leaks. We haven't really looked into the problem, we just put down a towel.
- There is half of a glass of wine next to a sippy cup. I think that is self-explanatory. Except, why did leave wine? Also notice a BOX of wine on the counter. Keepin' it classy in '12.
- You can't see it, but the sink is full of dirty dishes.

This is exactly how it looked last night when I intentionally ignored it and went to bed.

On to the next keepin' it real picture:

Me. At 5:45 this morning in Jones' bathroom.

Let's all notice how swollen my eyes are.

Yesterday was not a good day. We all have bad days, and for me, yesterday was one of those. Luckily, today is Friday. Also lucky for me, I cried like a baby last night and felt much better afterwards. My eyes, however, are suffering this morning.

I am happy to report that after a shower, three cups of coffee, some mascara and lots of concealer, I look somewhat better.

Happy Friday to you!