Back to the beginning

SITS is having their Back 2 Blogging  Challenge and even though I'm a rookie the the blogging world I decided to join in on the fun.  There is also a chance to win Thelma and Louise pictured below. How awesome is that?!?  Make sure you check out the sponsors of this great challenge Standards of Excellence, Westar Kitchen and Bath, and Florida Builder Appliances,



Day 1: Repost Your First Blog Post

It wasn't too hard for me to locate my first blog post since it was posted just over a month ago. This was my first post:

My First Time

Just when I thought I couldn't possibly fit anything else into my already hectic schedule. I have decided to enter into the world of blogging.

Hey Everyone,

Let me introduce my self. My name is Chanel and I am the mother of a very active 2-year old girl named Kyla. I am married to wonderful man who loves his family dearly.

I had the wonderful privilege of staying at home with my "chunky munk" for the first six months of her life. Then reality kicked back in and I went back to work as a server. A month later I was promoted to restaurant manager at a restaurant 45 minutes away. This is when the craziness began. Working 50+ hours a week, going to graduate school, tending to my family and home. I has almost been two years and everyday is an adventure.

This brings me to the reason that I started this blog. I don't have many friends with children. I needed an outlet to vent and share my experience with other and hope to also learn from other mothers. I also want to create something that my daughter can one day look back at and laugh at her crazy mother.

Looking back at my post I wouldn't change much. I would add a picture. I think this was a good introduction post. It let you know a little about me and why I started blogging. Here is my  edited post:

My First Time

Just when I thought I couldn't possibly fit anything else into my already hectic schedule. I have decided to enter into the world of blogging.

Hey Everyone,

Let me introduce my self. My name is Chanel and I am the mother of a very active 2-year old girl named Kyla. I am married to wonderful man who loves his family dearly.

I had the wonderful privilege of staying at home with my "chunky munk" for the first six months of her life. Then reality kicked back in and I went back to work as a server. A month later I was promoted to restaurant manager at a restaurant 45 minutes away. This is when the craziness began. Working 50+ hours a week, going to graduate school, tending to my family and home. I has almost been two years and everyday is an adventure.

This brings me to the reason that I started this blog. I've always loved to read and write (I was one of those nerdy kids that loved to get books for Christmas). I used to write all the time; poems, stories, essays you name it. Over the years I have lost touch with my creative side and I miss it. I figured that blogging would give me that creative outlet that I longed for. Being that I don't have many friends with children; I needed a place to vent and share my experiences with others. I hope to also learn from other mother's experiences and advice. My final reason for starting this blog is because I wanted to create something that my daughter can one day look back at and enjoy.

I've Relapsed Again

I have a confession to make. Other than my new make-up addiction; I have another addiction. I am completely addicted to sweets. I have always had a sweet tooth as far back as I remember. This is one of the reasons that I love baking.  My candy addiction got real bad for a while. My husband would complain because he would wake up with candy wrappers on his face(I would hide candy in my pillow case). This is when I realized that things were out of control. When you start hiding your addiction; you have a problem.


Well, I told myself that I was going to give of the candy and sweets habit and I actually was doing very well for a few months. Not only did I give up the sweet I started working out again, eating healthy and even drinking water. Things were going really good. I lost 5 pounds, my skins was crystal clear and I had so much energy. I was so proud of myself. Then I went on vacation....

Everything went downhill from the first day of my vacation. I thought I could have ONE bag of candy and it would be alright....WRONG!!! It was like a recovering drug addict taking one hit for old times sake. One bag let to three bags, a soda,cake, and Subway cookies (Yum!). I've gained back my five pounds +3 extra (inserts scream here). I have got to get things back in order. I'm running out of clothes that fit and I can't afford to buy new ones.

OK...in front of you, God and my dog; I vow to get back on track. I am finishing my last piece of cheesecake as we speak. I WILL drink at least 5 glasses of water a day. If any of you ever see me with candy, soda, or a cupcake...please slap it out of my hand. Thank You!

Total State of Confusion

I don't know what has been going on with me lately. I have totally lost control of my life. I usually work the evening shift at the restaurant which is 3:00PM until 12 or 1AM depending on how long people decided to hang out in the restaurant and talk. My body was used to this schedule and then they decided to shake things up and have me working the morning shift for 10 days in row. Most people would love the morning shift because you get off a decent hour. Well a few mornings are cool but 10 in a row just doesn't work well for me.

Let me give you a rundown of what working mornings looks like for me. My body is so used to getting to bed around one so for the first three days I could not go to sleep before that time. I have to wake up at 5AM drive 45 minutes to work. I usually get off at five (if everything goes well) and get home around 6. My daughter is usually at the door waiting for me to get home and the first thing she wants to do is go outside and ride her bike. So outside we go to battle the hot blazing sun and the 15 million gnats swarming around face. We do this for about an hour and I finally convince Kyla that mommy needs to sit down and eat dinner. I eat dinner and then run around the house with little bit until it is time for her to go to bed. Bedtime has now become an event and every night we must read 5 books before she is satisfied.

So...OK, the baby is in the bed. It’s time to relax right? Wrong, now it is time to do some homework from my Master's program. By the time I finally get done with that is 10PM and time to go to sleep so that I can get 7 hours of sleep (hopefully). Did I forget to mention spend time with the hubby? No I did not forget...there is no time. During those ten days, I probably talked to my husband a total of one hour. There is no working out, not washing of clothes, no eating other than dinner (maybe).

My life feels like is in total disarray. The clothes were piling up (I was down to my period panties). I was behind on my school work. For those of you who know me; I am an A student and get very upset if I get anything less. Well, I just got my first C because I turned my final paper in late. I thought they were just going to take some points off but the final paper cannot be late. I got a zero of my final paper....yes I cried! Then the next day I woke up 2 hours late for work.  I couldn't wait until Wednesday to finally have a day off where I can get everything back in order. I go in the kitchen to grab my breakfast cheesecake out of the refrigerator  and happened to look at my schedule and notice I wasn't off and I had to be at work in two hours. UGH...I love my life!!

Well, today I am really off and hopefully I can get things back in order. Has anyone else felt like things have just gotten out of control? How did you handle it?

My Fav Five

This is a list of of five physical things that I couldn't imagine living life without. They are in no particular order; so don't think that one is more important than the other.

1. Kyla - My baby girl and my world

2. My Hubby- He helps balance out my craziness

3. Spaghetti- My absolute favorite food EVER 

4. My Mascara - Don't judge me. I am actively seeking help for my addiction.

These are actually my mascaras

5. My Phone - I am addicted to my phone...I feel lost without it.

These are just some of the things I love. There are so many other things that I can't live without. One of which is my family, friends, food and God!!!

Wordless Wednesday: A Daddy's Love is Like No Other

Meet Me on Monday!!

Questions: 

1. Do you wear socks to bed?

I feel completely naked if I don't have my socks on. It drives my husband crazy...but guess what? He will get over it...lol

2. Do you have any pets?

I have a 5-year old Jack-Russel Terrier. She was my first child. She was so spoiled before my husband and me real daughter came around. Now she is constantly tormented by Kyla on a daily basis.

3. What topping(s) do you like on your pizza?

I'm a pretty simple girls when it comes to my pizza....cheese, cheese and more cheese please. Every once in a while I will be wild and add mushroom to my pizza.

4. What time do you go to bed?

Oh man, that is the question of the century. It depends on when I can get off work. Most day I work night shift and don't get home until 1 or 2AM. So my bedtime is usually around 3AM (Yawn!)

5. Would you rather get free chocolate for one year or free potatoes forever?

This is what my staff got me for my birthday...so I think you all have the answer to this question

Payback is a Mother...

I really wish someone would have warned me how bad the terrible-two really were. I know that they call it the terrible-twos for a reason but I had no idea it would be this bad. I thought my daughter started her terrible-two phase when she turn 1 1/2 but I was sooooo wrong. That was just a preface of what was to come.

My sweet and loving angel has turned into a little hellion. I spend the entire day telling Kyla not to touch this, don't climb on that, close the door, put that down. It is so tiring. I don't even know why I continue to waste my breath because she doesn't listen. Nothing seems to work. I thought time out was going to work and it did for the first two weeks but that was short-lived. Popping her is a waste of time because she will just look at you and continue about her business. UGH....it is so frustrating. I try to remind myself that the is just exploring her independence.

They say that when you have kids that they act 3X worse than you were as a child. Well, I just want to say "Sorry Mom, please remove the curse". I know that I was kind of mischievous when I was a child but this is ridiculous. I guess this is my payback for all the headaches and grey hairs that I caused my parents. I was hoping things would balance out since my husband was good as a child....no such luck.

Now don't get me wrong. I absolutely love my daughter but there are days when I look forward to going to work to get a break. I just don't understand how she can be so cute and sweet one moment and totally defiant the next. Hats off to all the stay-at-home moms who have made it through the terrible-twos phase. I am open to any and all suggestions and advice that any of you may have to offer. She has me seriously rethinking having another child. Someone....please tell me it get better.