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Typically I post most of the blogs I write on Facebook as well unless my language is a little out of control.  Then I only post on here.  Most of my friends/family still come here weekly to view my blogs regardless.  The problem I'm having is that a lot of time ya'll comment on FB about my blogs.  Next time, if you can please comment here instead that would be great.  I'm thinking abot using my blog to start promoting other business, etc and the more traffic I have on here the better.  I get way too many hits on here to have zero feedback on my posts.  People are obviously reading this so if you are, please take a second and comment on here rather than on my Facebook page.  Also any of my friends who have local businesses that they'd like to have help advertising let me know and I'd be glad to do a write up on here for you.  I have a very mixed crowd when it comes to my visitors.  Since I'm highly into social media people from all over tend to stop by so let me help you get your name out.  We have the soccor moms form the parenting website I'm on, the weight loss junkies who follow me on Sparkpeople & WW, the other fellow bloggers and of course all my friends & family in Texas.  Join the latest trend and start networking.  =)  If you want to go a step further make sure to subscribe to my blog.  Then you will always stay up to date on my latest rants & raves.  Happy Wednesday!

Chuck E. Cheese - Party Time!

It was another round at Chuck E. Cheese's for Makenna's 3rd birthday.  Her party theme was Tangled/Rapunzel.  I started off by ordering her invitation template from DarlingDesignsbySara on Etsy.com.  You can view a sample of the invitation template I chose here (Sample Tangled Invitation).  Then I had multiple copies printed at Walgreens for super cheap.  Sending personalized invites has become a staple for the parties I throw.  I absolutely love the ideas I find on Etsy.  I also ordered the rings for her cupcakes there as well.  I could not find Tangled Rings anywhere but of course as soon as I searched for it on Etsy there it was.  They shipped them out the same day which was also a plus considering that I waited til the very last minute to add cupcakes to my dessert order.  Big thanks to PlatesAndNapkins on Etsy.com You were a huge help! 

I did like most people and visited the party sections of Target & Wal-Mart where I found a few items for her party bags.  I decided to buy the Tangled Cups and use those to fill with items instead of the cheap baggies that were sold in the store.  Obviously the boys would not be excited about such girly cups so while at Wal-Mart I picked up a few red cups with the Cars theme on them.  Then I ran into the problem of figuring out what to get the babies that would be at the party.  They obviously couldn’t have the same items as the 3 year olds attending so I made this gift bag instead.  Great for the almost toddlers we had attending the party.  =)

Here is a picture of the finished party favor I did for one of the girls and the contents inside.  I made the labels to place on each bag using free Tangled clip art I found online.  Most of the bags were personalized saying, “Thank you for celebrating my 3^rd birthday party (Fill In The Name)” however I made a few that did not have names for those extra guests that may show up without responding to the RSVP. 

 I also decided to personal sets of washable paints and hand those out with printed coloring sheets that were also part of the Tangled theme.  I found those sheets at http://www.colouring-page.org/kids/tangled-coloring-pages  and http://www.free-coloring-book.eu/coloring_pages_tangled_rapunzel_1.php .  The paints I picked up at HEB.  The HEB brand was the cheapest and no one would ever know they were generic because I just took out the front label. For those on a budget this makes a difference.  I forgot to take pictures of them so here are two pictures I found online so you can get the idea of what I did.  I personalized these as well just like you see below.  The kids loved them!

The last thing left was dessert.  I could not afford to go all out and have a custom cake made this year so I started checking with the bakeries at Target, Wal-Mart, Sam’s, and HEB.  Target, Wal-Mart, and HEB all had the same basic Tangled themed cake and Sam’s did not carry any Tangled items.  Since we were expecting approximately 50 people to attend we decided to get a ½ sheet cake and ordered 30 white cupcakes from Sam’s.  Since the cupcakes were only $13.99 this was the best deal I could find and so even though they were not helpful with ordering the cake I decided I would still get my cupcakes from them.  Smart decision because they were absolutely delicious.  Then I went to HEB to order that basic Tangled cake but while there we saw a two layer castle cake for the Disney Princesses.  It was only $10 more than the plain sheet cake and the baker told us she could change it to make it geared towards Rapunzel instead.  Jackpot!  I gave her the mini Rapunzel figurines I had found on Amazon.com a few weeks ago to replace the standard Disney Princesses that normally come with the cake.  All in all the cake & cupcakes turned out fabulous.  When you factored in the rings, figurines, cake & cupcakes I spent about $80 on the dessert.  A little higher than I budgeted for.  So while I loved everything I think next year I will just do a few orders of the cupcakes instead.  After all, the only ones who ate the cake were the adults.  Kids seem to just love cupcakes.  =)

Here are few more pics from the actual party.  Can't believe my baby is now 3 years old.  Such a sweet kid.  Glad she had so much fun. 

A letter to my 3 year old...

Makenna,

What happened to my little baby?  Three years old?  How did this happen so fast.  I find myself amazed each day at how much you’ve grown.  You come into my room now and say, “Wake up Mommy.” when you use to just scream from your crib.  You sing, dance, and talk non-stop.  Instead of “Goo Goo GaGa”, you now engage in conversation with real dialogue.  You care about others feelings and ask how their day is going.  You ask every stranger you meet what their name is and greet them with a big smile.  You give practical solutions to problems that arise. Example, when you noticed I’d been crying you simply said, “Wipe your tears Mommy and then you can be happy.”  So matter of fact.  It worked.  I was smiling in no time.  You even quote movies now.  What 3 year old does that?  In perfect context too.  I no longer have to help you put on your own shoes or brush your teeth.  Miss Independent you certainly are.

Three years ago today,  I couldn’t have comprehended such things.  You were tiny, fragile, and I was a little afraid of you.  I worried that you wouldn’t like me.  That I would mess up and do something wrong.  I had no clue what I was doing.  Motherly instincts did not come as naturally as I’d hoped.  It was a matter of survival when it came to you.  Make it to the next feeding, the next nap, the next diaper change.  We lived in 3 hour increments .  Still you loved me unconditionally and slowly I found my way.  You inspired me to be exactly what you needed me to be.  Strong, courageous, forgiving, & patient.  Characteristics that came easily with you in my life.  Thank you for such a beautiful gift Makenna Jayde.  I wouldn’t be who I am today without all three wonderful years of you.  I know I will have many more birthdays to celebrate with you. More moments of you surprising & delighting me.  More “I love yous, hugs, & kisses.  I know you will scare me, then reassure me a moment later.  Test my patience, make me laugh & then cry.  Walk away but eventually  (please) grab my hand.  Still, today I’ll just sit back, take a breath and enjoy this day with you.  You’re no longer my baby but my big girl instead.  Promise me that your tiny little hands will always fit perfectly in mine.   I love you.

-Mommy-

Margarita Time!

Left work early to go have Margaritas with friends tonight.  Rachel and I started way too early.  By the time everyone got there I was extremely tipsy and about to fall asleep.  Still it was good getting to see Becki and her mom.  I haven't seen her mom in years so it was nice to catch up.  Plus I was able to recap the past few weeks for Rachel and then see my sister as well.  I had fajitas and skipped on all the extras but I'm sure I made it for it with all the calories in my drinks.  Oh well, I've still been making better choices where my food is concerned so I'm not too disappointed.  All and all a good night.  Now I have to start on my homework which is going to be difficult after having alcohol.  Darn, maybe it is better to be a responsible adult....nah!

STRAWBERRY MANGO MARGARITA FROM PAPPASITOS!  YUMMY!

Instagram - Follow me

This is definitely my newest obsession… follow me @texmexprice

Wish I wasn't so jaded but he totally made me this way.

All Smiles....

I'm not going to let this funk get me down.  All smiles today...

Anyone Who Says Weight Loss Is Easy Has Never Been Fat!

Well I’m one week in to my Weight Watcher’s program and I’ve lost 4.5lbs.  There is the proof I needed that this program really does work.  I very pleased with my decision to join again.  This next week I will concentrate more on mixing in some fitness with my daily schedule.  I’ll be taking advantage of the two 15 minute breaks we’re allowed and use that time to walk around the building a few times.  Since I’m trying to cut back on personal calls at work this will be a good opportunity to talk to friends while getting some exercise.  Now that I’m no longer going out to eat during lunch I’ll also have an extra hour during the day for the gym.  Hopefully this transition will run a little smoother than my diet has.  Don’t get me wrong, I love the WW program.  However it definitely isn’t easy when you’re cutting your caloric intake in half.  What has been even more difficult is realizing just how many extra calories I have been consuming.  No wonder I haven’t lost anything in so long.  I will say this about losing weight, whoever says its easy has never been FAT!  The first few nights I felt like I was STARVING.   Two things I quickly learned:

1)      Go to bed earlier.  The later I’m up the more time I have to give in and have a late night snack. 

2)      I must not be eating the right type of calories.  I need to pick more filling items so that I’m not constantly hungry.

Oh and temptation is everywhere I turn.  I’m realizing that my mother, the person I want to be my biggest supporter is actually my biggest enemy.  She goes out to eat all the time and this week decided to make brownies.  The one thing I’ve never been able to say no to.  Then today she invited me to Chuys (Mexican food).  Really?  She claims she’s proud of me and that she hopes I continue doing well but is she really happy for me?  It sure doesn’t feel like it.  I guess I shouldn’t complain and just be proud that I’ve declined all of her offers & temptations.  Still, this is something I really should discuss with her since I’m around her so much.  The good news is that I at least have a good support system at work.  My boss has already lost 40lbs on WW and she is right here for me to kick my butt when she thinks I might be having a bad day.  And so begins week 2….

Hating my diet today.

I'm starving!  Ugh, I hate this diet & I hate eating earlier than normal.  It's almost 10pm & all I can think about is food.  Guess I better take my butt to bed.

It's 2013!!!

It’s 2013!!!  Rather than make my usual list of things I want to work on, this year I decided to create a vision board.  What can I say…I was in a crafty mood.  It’s filled with ideas of what I’d like to work on this year, where I’d like to go, and a few items I’d like to obtain before 2014.  Each year the main goal is just to be better than the following year.  I’m all about spicing things up a bit in 2013.  I’m pretty sure God did not intend for me to live in a cave all my life so it’s time to get back out there.  Let go of any fear I’ve been holding on to.  I’ve been trying to stay in a safe zone for so long that I feel as if I’ve lost myself this past year.  I watch the people around me traveling, exploring, taking new career paths, partying the night away and I think to myself, “I could never do that.”  Now having a daughter I’ve used her as an excuse as well.  Yes, I’m a mother but I’m not dead yet.  Being single on top of everything makes me want to embrace this time even more.  Who knows what this life has in store for me.  I know one thing, I won’t ever find out if I stay locked up.  So here is a few pictures of my vision board for 2013.  I’m hanging it on my door so I will have to look at it every single day.  I’m hopeful that it will be just the motivation that I need.