35 changes in year 35

So, Monday was my birthday.  It was nice.  Todd & the kids took me to dinner.  Molly made me a necklace that also serves as a key chain.  Super awesome!  So, all in all, it was a good day.

Lately I feel that I am being stretched too thin.  In any 24 hour time period, I am a mother, wife, employee, boss, co-worker, etc..  I know I am not the only one.  But I feel like I am not giving everything 100% of my attention.  I just can't. It is too tiring.  Have you tried to be on your A-game 24/7?  That shiz is HARD!!!

So, I came up with a list of 35 things that I want to work on in my 35 year of life.  I will try to do an update every month.  I think that by making these changes (some big and some small), it will help me be the best Becky I can be.

1. Lose an average of 5 pounds a month.  
2. Be able to wear my wedding ring again.  I haven't worn my wedding rings since March 2012.
3. Run a 5k
4. Get my hair cut and colored more than 2 times this year.  Since Brady was born in 2010, I have averaged 2 hair cuts a year.  Can you say 3 inch roots?  It's not pretty.
5. Put pictures in all the picture frames in my house that are empty.  
6. Get up to date on ordering pictures.  I have all of 2012 and 2013 to date to print.
7. Organize my scrapbook stuff.
8. Go to at least six crops.
9. Organize and purge all closets in the house
10. Clean out laundry room
11. Keep up with laundry
12. Put out decorations for all major holidays (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, St. Patrick's Day & Easter)
13. Dress for the job I want, not the job I have (Wear makeup and fix my hair everyday)
14. Clean out my car.  It's cluttery, not dirty.
15. Read at least one book for fun a month
16. Go on a date with Todd and least once a month
17. Go on a mommy / Molly date every other month
18. Go on a mommy/ Brady date every other month
19. Call my mom just because.  Not only when I need something
20. Spend less time on social media.
21. Stop being the hot mess mommy in the carpool line
22. Take my employees to lunch more often
23. Visit my dad's grave 2 times this year.  I have been once since he passed away in 2008.
24. Stop drinking soda.
25. Stop eating so much fast food.
26. Finish my tattoo removal.
27. Stop spending money on stupid things
28. Learn to say "no" when I don't want to do something
29. Eat 5 veggies/fruit a day
30. Take a class at the YMCA
31. Get Lasik
32. Get a manicure/pedicure at least once every other month
33. Call my brother more
34. Do a random act of kindness once a month
35. Spend more time playing with my kids

Okay, so some of these seem pretty superficial.  And that's okay, because it is my list.

Pray for Oklahoma

I was going to post about the 35 things I want to do on my 35th year on this planet, but then I got a text from  this pretty girl, and it made me realize that I am truly a spoiled brat and have know idea what real problems are.

 We all know Kimmyyy.  And if you don't you are missing out.  She is truly one of the most giving people I have never met.  She would give you the shirt off her back and not think anything of it.  She is also the first person to put you in check when you are being a princess with your "white girl problems".  And that is why I love her!!!

You see Kimmyyy lives in Oklahoma, and has been personally affected by the horrible tornado that happened in Moore yesterday.  Thank God that her and her family are all safe and their house was not damaged.  But there is a little girl missing that is part of her softball community and a little boy from baseball and his mom who lost everything.  

Please do whatever you can to help out this town.  You never know when something like this could happen to you...

If you are interested in donating to the red cross, you can donate here  Red Cross.

This pretty much sums it up

My work right now is HECTIC to say the least.

Work is one overdrive.  It is the end of the school year for T, which means report cards, grading, late nights at school.  My house is a disaster.  Dishes are everywhere, laundry is piled up in baskets, toys are not being picked up.



I have a list of people and it is growing by the hour!!!

Good thing I have a friend who is a lawyer, because I have a feeling I may be needing her to get me out of an assault charge really soon!

In other news.... Tonight is M's preschool concert.  It is also her very first piano recital.  We will see how that goes.  I tried to help her practice her song, but that didn't go so well.  So, it might just be her banging on the keys and belting her song out.  Which, I will be okay with.

They Say It's your Birthday

When I saw this linkup with Holly,  Chrissy, Lindsey and I just new I had to participate!

There have been so many great birthday's in my 34 years.  There was the time that my dad made my least favorite meal (pot roast), and I cried until they took me to Applebee's.  There was time that I hate a roller skating party and got to ride in the middle of the rink on the jumbo roller skate, but my all-time favorite birthday story happened on May 19, 1995.

It was my junior year of high school, and all of the college kids had just come home from summer break. My best friend at the time was Ms. Perfect.  Homecoming Queen, Prom Queen, dating the star football player.  You know the girl you want to hate, but you can't because even though she is perfect, she is also very nice?  Why she was BFF's with me, I will never know.  Maybe she felt sorry for me or something.

Anyway, we  headed out to a party in her Lebaron Convertible.  I was not much of a drinker, but it was the night before my 17th birthday and I was almost a senior and I was hanging out with college kids, so I had to drink.  Well, my drink of choice for the night was Cherry Brandy.  I know you are probably thinking.  Does that stuff even exist?  And I can assure you that the answer is yes.  I am not sure how much I had to drink, but it was enough to get me white girl wasted.  Throw in a couple of beers and a cigarette or two, and I was down for the count.  

We got back to her house late, and I proceeded to throw up all over the WHITE carpet that was installed three days ago in her house.  I was screwed.  We cleaned it up, but you know how puke is.  Her mom still found out about it the next morning, and she kicked me out of her house, and told me that I was no longer welcome in their house.  OOPS!!!

I drove myself home.  All I wanted to do was sleep.  But my mom had other plans.  She was excited to take me to breakfast at Shoney's (my favorite breakfast place at the time).  I couldn't look at food, let alone eat anything.  I faked a stomachache.  After my birthday breakfast fail, I went home and went straight to bed. 

I woke up later that evening to my BFF knocking on my door.  I went outside to talk to her, and she proceeded to yell at me for about 30 minutes for ruining her parent's perfect new carpet.  I was so hung over, I couldn't do anything.  So, I just stood there and let her yell at me.  After she left, my brother felt sorry for me.  So, he let me go to the movies with him and his girlfriend.  We saw French Kiss, and I remember falling asleep 10 minutes into the movie.

It might not have been one of my shining moments, but I can honestly say that I will never forget my 17th birthday as long as I live.  

Cherry Brandy anyone?!?!?

Finish the Sentence Link Up

This week has been crazy busy at both work and home, so I am going to get in on the fun!

Unlike my sibling(s) (that I love very much)....  I will never be okay with my mom remarrying or dating anyone.  Yes, I know that my dad died almost five years ago, but they were married for 40 years.  Sorry not sorry, but I can't handle the thought of that happening.

My best friend says...  that I should let my mom date someone...  See my best friend is my sister.

People call me... Becky, Becky Lynn, Fitz, Fitzpatrick, Tucker, Mother of the year, Weezer

I most often dream..about winning the lottery and what I would do with all the money I won.

The best part of my day... seeing Molly and Brady when I get home from work.

I really don't understand... Mean people.  

I get really annoyed... Oh gosh... Where do we start.  Stick people on the back of cars. People who drive slow in the fast lane.  People who don't use their blinkers.  Can you tell that I spend about 90 minutes of my day in a car?

There's nothing like a... taking your bra off at the end of the work day, and putting on pajama pants.  Best feeling ever!

Lately, I can't get enough...  of cashews.  OMG.  So good!

One thing I am NOT is...skinny.  Maybe someday! 

I spent too much money on.. crap at Costco.  I can't leave that store without spending less than $100.  And I go at least once a week.  

I want to learn....to be a more patient person. 

If I ever met .... Jordan Knight I would probably cry like a baby. And guess what... I am going to meet him.  June 30th!!

I can't stop... drinking Diet Coke.  I need an intervention.  Someone please help me.

Never have I ever...met a donut that I didn't like.

Reese Witherspoon...should have hired a driver, but I still love her!  I mean come on...  She is amazing!

Worst Teacher Gifts

So, I guess it is Teacher Appreciation Week.  As many of you know, my husband is an elementary school teacher.  This is his 11th year teaching.  And in his 11 years of teaching, he has received some amazing gifts from students and some not so amazing gifts from students.

I know what you are probably thinking... I go to work everyday, and nobody buys me presents.  True, but unless your job is to try to teach 25-30 kids all day long, the only present you deserve is your paycheck you get.  I can't even imagine how hard it is to be a teacher.  I have two kids, and by the end of the weekend I am ready to escape go back to work on Monday morning.  But teachers have no escape.



So without further ado, here is my list of WHAT not to buy your Child's teacher.

• Homemade Crafts - Think about this one people.  How would you feel if you were opening up a gift for your birthday and you received a homemade piece of crap that someone saw off pinterest?  You would be pissed.  Safe those for Moms/Dads/Grandmas/Grandpas.  But, don't pawn that crap off on your child's teacher.  These are the people that are going to help your kids get into good colleges one day.

• Candles - Unless it's Scentsy, and then just give the teacher a gift card to a Scentsy person.  Just because you like your house to smell like cut roses, doesn't mean your teacher likes his house to smell like cut roses.

• Plants/Flowers - Under no circumstances should you EVER buy your child's teacher a Plant and/or Flower.  Those don't even make it into our house.  They go straight into the trash can.  I have two kids that I am trying to keep alive on a daily basis.  I don't have time to try to keep a plant alive.  Plus, everyone in my house has allergies, so I don't want to have to be wiping noses every 24 seconds either.  Leave those at the greenhouse. 

• Body Lotion - This is very similar to candles.  Teachers don't want body lotion.  If they want it, they will go to the store and buy it themselves. 

• Apple Crafts -  There really is no explanation needed on this one.

Happy Shopping!

Thankful AKA, I am one Lucky B

Hey guys!

For all 10 of my followers, did you miss me?

I am not really back, but I had a lot of things happen this past weekend, and I realized that I am truly a Lucky & Blessed person.

Here's a short and sweet recap of my past week.  Todd went to pick Brady up from his mom's house on Wednesday and he could tell that Brady wasn't feeling well at all.  So, instead of going to the Y, we went home.  Brady wasn't his usual bubbly self, but being the mother of the year that I am, I ignored it.  Todd called the doctor's exchange, and when they FINALLY called us back, they told us that he needed to go the ER like 10 minutes ago.

So, we took him to the ER.  They gave him two breathing treatments and did chest x-rays.  His breathing did not get any better, so they admitted us to the hospital.  We were there from Wednesday night - Friday late morning.  He was diagnosed with a cold, with in conjunction with his asthma (had no clue he had that), and his allergies, it turned into pneumonia.  So, even though it was scary for several hours, we are LUCKY that we have great doctors and nurses, and they got his situation out of control.

Saturday, I had lunch with some amazing people.  People that six months ago, I didn't even know existed.  But today, I am lucky enough to call them friends.  Holly, Erin, and Mel are truly three of the nicest people that I have been lucky enough to meet through this whole blogging world.  Not sure what is going on with my weird lean-in to Mel.

After our lunch on Saturday, I had to race home to get Molly to my nephew's 8th birthday party.  Even though Brady was feeling much better, we made him sit this one out.  Molly had a blast!  

So this is where the Lucky part comes in.  You see there is a little boy in my nephew's class that is in a wheelchair.  I am not sure what he has exactly, but I do know that his life expectancy is like between 16-20 years.  And every time I see him and his parents, it breaks my heart in two.  I know that the family doesn't need or want my sympathy, but they have it.   My sister has mentioned to me several times that the mom and dad never leave their son.  They don't have date nights to see a movie or a concert.  The mom doesn't work outside the home, but she is ALWAYS with her son.  She doesn't get the breaks like I do.  

This week I am going to do my best to be grateful for everything that I have.  

• I have two children who are healthy.  
•  I have a husband who loves me and our children more than anything in this world.  
• I have a job and co-workers that really mean it when they say "Family comes first".   You see we are going through an HR system conversion, and last week was crazy busy for me.  My boss was on vacation, and I had a bunch of stuff that was supposed to be done when she got back today.  Well, needless to say, that didn't happen.  I emailed my whole department on Thursday morning when we knew that Brady was going to be in the hospital for a while.  The first person to email me back was my VP of HR telling me not to worry about work.  It would be here when I got back.  That made me feel so much better, because then I could worry about getting Brady better and not have to worry about the hundreds (wish I was joking) of spreadsheets that were waiting for me.
•  I have an amazing family.  My MIL came over on Wednesday to take care of Molly so that we could take care of Brady.  My mom called no fewer than 87 times to make sure Brady was OK.  Same as my sister, and SIL.
• I have awesome friends.  I got so many thoughtful texts, emails, FB posts, IG messages when I posted about Brady being sick

If you take anything from this post, it is this.  Don't take anything for granted, because no matter how bad you think you have it, there are people who are going through much worse.

Happy Monday!!!